This article was written by Andrew Palau.

Not all optimists are believers. And not all believers are optimists. But the optimistic believer is a dynamite duo.

Think about a perpetual optimist you know. (Perhaps it’s you!) When confronted with a challenge, a bold smile and a cheery word are their natural response. They do not possess the ability to mumble and they do not know the meaning of despair. Their shoulders are buoyant without burden and their voices are as sing-song bright as a bird’s delight.

Do you know a person of rock-solid faith? These people are firm. Steady. Immovable. Their goal is not to prove themselves to the world, but rather to take the world as it comes, living for an “audience of One.” Their faith is not for show, but when it does emerge, it humbly calls for company. Doubters and skeptics are helplessly attracted to the pure peace they radiate.

When is an optimist not a believer? When she looks at the bright side of life but refuses to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. She is a poster child for secular self-help books and articles about changing your life through “the power of positive thinking.”

When is a believer not an optimist? When he has entrusted himself to Jesus Christ but continues to respond to life’s challenges with fear, anxiety, and doubt. He has not let his faith out of its small, Sunday-sized box or let it permeate every nook and cranny of daily, real life.

The optimistic believer, however, is a joyful combination of a deeply rooted faith that shows itself in a spirited, lighthearted approach to even the most trying circumstances. It’s not fake. It’s not shallow. It is a tangible faith that is completely confident in what is hoped for and assured of what is not seen (Hebrews 11:1). This is the person who says with confidence, “‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6).

I encourage you: be an optimistic believer. Let Christ have the victory in your life. And “do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:35).