Parson to Person: Never lose hope

Hope is the anchor of our souls. I know of no one who is not in need of hope ? young or old, strong or weak, rich or poor.

Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test.

The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope.

A few years ago, a young mother in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was having trouble with a pregnancy. She went to the hospital, where one of the nurses told her she would probably lose the baby.

The young mother replied: ?But I can?t give up. ? You have to give me hope.?

She later recalled: ?I couldn?t give up hope until all reason for hope was gone. It was something I owed to my unborn child.?

Three days later she had a miscarriage.

She wrote: ?For one long moment, I felt nothing. Then a profound feeling of peace flowed through me. With the peace came understanding. I knew now why I couldn?t give up hope in spite of all the circumstances: you either live in hope or you live in despair. Without hope, you cannot endure to the end. I had looked for an answer to prayers and was not disappointed; I was healed in body and rewarded with a spirit of peace. Never before had I felt so close to my Heavenly Father; never before had I felt such peace...?

Peace in this life is based upon faith and testimony. We can all find hope from our personal prayers and gain comfort from the scriptures

The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death.

How can we know that Jesus truly is our Savior and Redeemer?

In human terms His reality is almost undefinable, but His presence can be known unequivocally by the Spirit if we continually seek to live under the shadow of His influence

Our greatest hope comes from the knowledge that the Savior broke the bands of death.

His victory came through His excruciating pain, suffering, and agony. He atoned for our sins if we repent.

In the Garden of Gethsemane came the anguished cry, ?O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.?10

Luke described the intensity of the agony: ?And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.?11

My message to you today is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful to not overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!