Sometimes the slings and arrows of misfortunes, setbacks, attacks by people having a bad day or season of their lives, betrayal by supposed friends, illnesses, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs and homes are so overwhelming that there is little room for hope left. Hope for a better day, hope in the Savior to come to comfort us in our extreme stress, just one ray of sunlight on a gloomy storm-tossed dark day is all we need to carry on.
What is it that will give us the greatest hope? What should we put our sliver of hope in? The days of blessedness where we felt the Holy Spirit, and everything seemed to be going right are long gone. Do we hope for a return of those days? Do we hope for restoration like Job of old who lost everything including family in one day?
Where is the balm of Gilead? Where is the peace that was promised?[i] Where is there comfort in a world surrounded by demons?
“Behold, we are surrounded by demons, yea, we are encircled about by the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our souls.”[ii]
The saving key in the darkest of days is patient hope in Jesus Christ as Moroni so eloquently explained:
“And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.”[iii]
The apostle Paul declared that joy helped him endure afflictions in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ:
“bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”[iv]
Even Jesus suffered the cross because of the hope and joy set before him:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”[v]
In the valley of death and destruction, our life in tattered ruins and with Satan and his minions prowling around like those around Christ on the cross, we can like him and Paul have a sliver of hope, a singular ray of sunshine piercing the gloom, hope in the joy of the saints at the end of time:
“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.”[vi]
[i] John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
[ii] Helaman 13:37
[iii] Moroni 7:41
[iv] Acts 20 :24
[v] Hebrews 12:2
[vi] Ether 12:4