Jesus Engaged in Positive Reappraisal, and You Can Too

Use the Method to Uplift Yourself and Others

As a little kid, I was not the most coordinated youngster on my block. The neighborhood guys would razz me all the time.

Sadly, my stepfather was my worst critic. I could never jump over an obstacle, throw a ball, or hammer a nail to please him. By the time I grew old enough to develop the hand/eye coordination to do these things, I was already ruined by his negative assessment of my skills. Please don’t ask me to throw you a ball today; it will likely sail past you and go through a nearby window.

My life would have been different if my stepfather understood positive reappraisal. The term is a contemporary buzzword, but it was a technique Jesus used over 2,000 years ago. I want to explore positive reappraisal, explain how Jesus used it, and how you can use it to create a more positive outlook for yourself and others.

Positive Reappraisal Explained

Positive reappraisal is a cognitive-behavioral coping strategy involving reinterpreting adverse or stressful events more positively. It is a way of finding the good in a bad situation and seeing an opportunity for growth or learning.

By using positive reappraisal, you have a tool to cope with a wide range of negative events, from minor inconveniences to major life traumas. For example, if you get stuck in traffic on your way to work, you could reappraise the situation as a chance to listen to your favorite podcasts or audiobooks. Or, if you lose your job, you could reappraise it as an opportunity to explore new career options.

There are two main types of positive reappraisal:

Positive reframing. This involves looking for the benefits or upsides of a negative situation. For example, if you get sick, you might reframe the situation as a chance to rest and recover or catch up on reading or other activities you don’t have time for when you’re healthy.
Examining the evidence. This is challenging your negative thoughts and beliefs about a situation. For example, if you think you will fail at something, you could examine the evidence to see if this is really likely. Consider the potential consequences of failing and whether they are really that bad. Automatic catastrophic thinking never helps.

Using positive reappraisal can reduce the stress and anxiety in your life, improve your mood and emotional well-being, and give you greater resilience in the face of challenges. You find it will impact their lives in powerful ways when you use positive reappraisal in relationships with others.

How Jesus Used Positive Reappraisal

Jesus frequently used positive reappraisal in his teachings and interactions. Some examples:

The Woman at the Well (John 4:1–26). Jesus met a Samaritan woman who had lived a life of relational turmoil and social stigma. Instead of condemning her past, he redirected the conversation to her spiritual thirst. He offered her “living water,” thus reframing her situation from shame to a moment of spiritual awakening.

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1–10). Zacchaeus was despised by many for his profession and actions. I imagine he was like the Danny DeVito character, Louie DePalma, on the old “Taxi” TV series. Yet, Jesus saw beyond Zacchaeus’s personality and occupation and visited his home, leading to Zacchaeus’s spiritual transformation and wholeness.

Peter’s Denial (Luke 22:31–34). Before Peter denied him, Jesus told Peter that he would be sifted like wheat but reassured him of his future role as a rock of faith. Jesus looked beyond Peter’s imminent failure to the positive role he would later play. Through divine positive reappraisal, Jesus saw beyond Peter’s fumbling doubt and envisioned the leader he would become.

In each of these situations, Jesus exemplified positive reappraisal by focusing not on the current failings or situations of the individuals but on their potential for growth, change, and eventual spiritual maturity.

The Ripple Effect of Positive Reappraisal

When you see a glass, do you perceive it as half empty or half full? If you tend to see it half empty, as most people do, you’ll need to recalibrate your thinking.

Are you prone to perfectionism? That may also affect your judgment. You cannot let false ideas about perfection ruin your life or your initial appraisal of others. We all have faults but must overlook many if we want to encourage others. Don’t project your quest for perfection on others.

If you’re interested in trying positive reappraisal, here are a few tips:

Allow yourself to feel your negative emotions. It’s important to acknowledge and accept your negative feelings before you can try to reappraise them.
Identify your negative thoughts and beliefs. What are you telling yourself about the situation? Are your thoughts realistic?
Challenge your negative thoughts and beliefs. Is there any evidence to support your negative thoughts? Are there other ways to look at the situation?
Look for the benefits or upsides of the situation. Is there anything good that could come out of this? This takes genuine conscious effort to be positive.
Reframe the situation more positively. How can you see this as an opportunity for growth, learning, or change?

Positive reappraisal takes practice, but it’s a skill that anyone can learn. With a little effort, you can start reframing your negative thoughts and experiences in a more positive light, which can benefit your mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Unlock Your Knowledge

In embracing Jesus’ method of positive appraisal, we unlock a powerful tool for personal and communal transformation. Our words have the power to heal, empower, and transform. Here are three actionable steps to integrate this principle into your life:

Practice self-affirmation. Begin each day with a positive affirmation rooted in Christ’s teachings. Reflect on verses like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” and let it guide your day. This does not mean you can leap buildings in a single bound or run a 2-minute mile. It does mean that Jesus is present in your life to give you emotional and spiritual support to be better than you think you are.
Uplift others. In your interactions, consciously use words that affirm and encourage. Remember, every word you speak can reflect Christ’s love. Positive reappraisal gives you the power to change lives. This applies to everyone, but empowering children in this way is especially important.
Incorporate in ministry. Use positive appraisal to spread faith and love in formal ministry or daily encounters, just as Jesus did—every type of ministry benefits when leadership reframes adverse circumstances into positive ones.

Embrace the power of positive appraisal, and let it transform your life and those around you, just as Jesus intended.