For a simple four letter word, there is so much power that have in our lives. It will gives us our direction in our lives. There is something that I have written in my Twitter that says "If you believe, then you have faith. If you have faith, then you have hope." Hope and faith are the foundations of ourselves that guide us through our lives and even further.
Faith is the base of most of our lives. We build on it and at the same time strengthens that base. It is the foundation of ourselves. With out faith we cannot grow in our lives and spirits.
So what is faith? In the Book of Mormon, Alma says faith is "ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." - (Alma 32:21). Thomas who was on of the Twelve Disciples spoke with Jesus, about faith, and Jesus said to him "because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen , and yet have believed." - (John 20:29).
Faith may start out with a little. If you just start out with a little knowledge, the seed of faith will be planted. You take that knowledge and try to understand it in your mind, even to the point you want to believe that this true, a desire. That desire will work within you and you come onto more knowledge and your faith will begin to grow. It will grow strong and firm.
With faith comes hope. So what is hope? In Ether in the Book of Mormon it says:
"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4)
We hope for a better world and life. In the 13th Article of Faith reads, "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
What makes hope so important? It helps and guides us through the light and the dark. It gives us that light when we are in the dark. If we put our trust in God he will help us get through the dark. Alma says,"I do know whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3).
Hope can make us happy but when there is no hope, it all seems more lost. With hope we withstand the adversity that we face with the hope that "ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." (Alma 34:41).
Going back to Ether, hope is that anchor and foundation that shall make you strong and sure. If your feeling lost or in sorrow, "embrace and rely on upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow , and gladdens every heart" (President Uchtdorf).
I end with this,
Have hope. No matter how strong the storm, the wars, the adversity and the afflictions, you will get through it. I promise you that if you have hope, you can get through it. It may get worse but it will get better. Never give in, never surrender. Even when in the face of the howling darkness, the hope and your Heavenly Father are your light. You will be able to stand strong against the storms and even rise up against it. You are never alone in this fight. Rest easy and sleep well for the Lord is always with you. Life is good.
