Deliberate Hope

Hope is a deliberate feeling that is independent of our current emotional state or circumstances. Although we are constantly bombarded by different thoughts, emotions and moods that bubble up from the depths of our soul, hope is an emotion that we choose to feel. Our hope can be as bright or as dim as we choose to make it. If we anchor our hope in the Love of Christ, we can have a perfect brightness of hope. If we put our hope in our own strength or cleverness or accumulated wealth or prestige, our hope can not be perfect because we are not perfect. Having a hope in Christ means that we trust that no matter how perfectly dark our external circumstances may be, we have that perfect light burning bright within. Look at the difference between the Apostles on the sea of Galilee and Nephi tied to the mast. “Master, carest not that we perish” cry the apostles - their hope was in their boat or their skills as a sailor. But Nephi had a perfect brightness of hope, not only that the Master cared whether or not he would perish, but a perfect brightness of hope that the storm, no matter how frightening, how hard to bear, it was nevertheless the best chance for his brothers to soften their hearts and relinquish their desire to murder their brother. The darkest day can not dim our perfect brightness of hope unless we choose to let it. And if our hope is dim and flickering now, that does not mean that we cannot add to that light little by little. “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth that light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” - D&C 50:24