hope

I have been thinking about hope for awhile. What is the difference between having hope and wishing that something will happen or be true? I recently listened to a talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf that helped clarify what hope is for me. He was talking about becoming more like Jesus Christ and how a person might be able to work on having more Christlike attributes in their lives. One of those attributes is hope. It made a lot of sense to me, I hope it might make sense to you also.

"Hope is directly connected to faith in Jesus Christ. Hope is the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us. It is manifest in confidence and optimism, and enthusiasm and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. The word hope is sometimes misunderstood in the world. In our everyday language the word often has a hint of uncertainty. In the language of the gospel, the word hope is sure, unwavering and active. Hope is the anchor of our souls. Hope is trust in God's promises. It is confidence that if we act now we will receive the desired blessings in the future. With hope comes joy and happiness." President Uchdorf

I believe very personally that these words are true! Hope is the anchor to my soul. It is what helps me live with confidence and optimism as life throws curve balls and unexpected tests my way. Remember with hope comes joy and happiness!