Having Hope

Well the other day I was kinda feeling down, just down about lots of things. Nothing big. I was looking for answers and didn't know where to go. I made a goal at the first of the year to read the Book of Mormon in 3 months. I have not done as well as I would have liked to by now, still trying to get into the habit. Well then I went into reading a conference talk "Called The Infinite Power of Hope" It was just what I needed to read. 

^{Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. It's absence when this desire of our heart is delayed, can make the heart sick.}

 ^{I really liked that. I think sometimes in our own life's we forget to be hopeful on many things, if we just think about hope we can enjoy more of our time on this earth.}

^{The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seems like a suitcase that leads only and forever downward.}

^{I so believe that to be true. There has been times in my life where I have felt dark on the inside, I didn't show it from the outside, but I could feel it over taking my body.}

^{Having hope on the other hand is like the beam of the sunlight rising up and above the horizon of out present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion and of fear.}

^{As I was reading that part I thought back to my own life, things I wish I new back then. I could have changed many things about who I am or what I have done. The Lord has prepared a way for each of us. He knows what makes us happy and sad. When the lord gave me just a little bit of hope in my past, I began to see the light and then I wanted more, so I was more hopeful. I know with hope all is possible.} 

^{Those who come unto Christ, repent of their sins, and live in FAITH will reside forever in peace. Think of the worth of this eternal gift. Surrounded by those we love, we will know the meaning of ultimate joy as we progress in knowledge and in happiness. No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered in to the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."}

^{I sometimes thought that having to repent was going to be awful.That it didn't matter what I had done, I was not going to to live with Christ. I have learned that is not true, that's what Satan wants us to do so we can sin more. He doesn't want us to live with Christ. He doesn't want us to have hope, he doesn't want to see the light at the end of the tunnel. No Satan wants us to be like him.}

 Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will “work together for [our] good”
as we follow the counsel of God’s prophets. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt, and despair.

I know that we must always remember the promise that God made to us. We need to have Hope in God. I have seen that in my own life this past year. I saw the tender mercy of God. I had Hope and I was blessed.

  Faith, hope, and charity complement each other, and as one increases, the others grow as well. Hope comes of faith, for without faith, there is no hope. In like manner faith comes of hope, for faith is “the substance of things hoped for.”

Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity.

The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity. The three qualities—faith, hope, and charity
working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, lead us to abound in good works.

Having Faith, Hope and Charity it all seems to make sense. Once I knew that I wanted to be on the Lords side, I had more faith, I wanted to do more for people, I was hopeful in finding my self again and having peace.

Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us.

With Nephi I declare: “Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

 I believe that with any kind of trial in our life we need to have hope that we can get though it. I have had lots of hope and I know I can continue to get though what ever the Lord has in store for me.

The Lord has given us a reassuring message of hope: “Fear not, little flock.”  God will wait with “open arms to receive”  those who give away their sins and continue in faith, hope, and charity.

And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in.

Never surrender.

Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.

Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart.

I love the way this talk just made me feel so better, it made me understand the importance of hope. I have hope that this year will be a good one, I have hope that I can endure to the End. I have hope that my kids will continue to grow and be strong and be safe. Most important I believe in Hope. I know this Church is true and I am so grateful for it, for the things I have learned, things i have studied and the person I am today. I know that God saved me. He knew I wanted a good life and He gave me a grate life. God gave me a second chance, because I was willing to do whatever it took to save myself and my loved ones. I will never lose Hope in Christ again. It's just not worth it. This is the only true Church and I KNOW it. I know my savoir loves me, he has listen to me cry, he has helped me, he has been there for me, and I have felt his love in so many ways, sometime it is though other people, but he is there. He has always been there. I just needed to let him in. I needed to Ask for his help and it was there. I know with all things, things can be fixed and put back together. We need to do our part first and he will help do the rest. I know that to be true. I have experienced that in my own life. I am still not perfect, I still have lots to learn and I know that with the Lords help I will get there, I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

This is the link to to the conference talk  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-infinite-power-of-hope?lang=eng