Impatience, uncertainty, and fear can all be overcome through hope. We can see the blessings God offers us more clearly when we put hope into action.
God is good. Sometimes we forget that. In the moments when we seek answers, wishful thinking can become our greatest enemy, making us feel impatient and discouraged. On the contrary, when we confidently anticipate the eternal blessings that await us, that hope can strengthen our spiritual muscles.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf describes this concept in his October 2008 general conference talk, “The Infinite Power of Hope.” He states, “No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations.” Because of Jesus Christ, we can be assured that God’s promises to us will be fulfilled.
Having hope means being patient and waiting confidently for promised blessings. However, hope requires doing more than just standing by idly. Hope is an active verb that can be sown and nurtured through our works and faith. President Uchtdorf’s mother is an example of faithfully exercising hope. She once lost sight of her children as their family was fleeing to Germany, but she diligently sought them out, never giving up. In this story, “her faith overcame her fear, and her hope overcame her despair. She was not a woman who would sit and bemoan tragedy. She moved. She put her faith and hope into action.”
The challenges and uncertainty we face can make the world seem dark, but because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we have reason to hope. Hope is what has kept me moving through adversity; having hope in God’s promises can infuse our aspirations with purpose. So let us press on with faithful hope in Christ and experience “the infinite power of hope.”
Read President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s general conference talk, “The Infinite Power of Hope,” to learn more about how hope can bring us joy and carry us through sorrow.
Source: General Conference
—Samantha Caceres, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY MARCELO MORA
Find more insights
Take a look at the video “A Mother’s Hope” to see how President Uchtdorf’s mother overcame her fear by acting with hope and faith.
Read the Latter-day Saints Insights article “Hope Is a Call to Action” by Kira Christensen to learn about how hope can propel our determination to improve the world.