Lately, I know I’m not alone in feeling a profound weight with what’s happening in our world. Many of us are struggling with fear, frustration, and a sense of despair as we witness a culture that sometimes feels more driven by anger, division, and distrust than compassion and empathy.
As humans, I think we all seek meaning and connection in different ways. Some find strength in spiritual practices, philosophical frameworks, religious faith, or deeply held personal values. Some find it in their connections to community, nature, or humanitarian ideals. Whatever path we follow, many of us search for something steady to hold onto – a framework that helps us make sense of our world and guides us toward purpose, especially when darkness seems to surround us.
I’ve been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) my entire life. My faith has always been an important part of who I am, and it has served as a foundation I’ve relied on to help me stay grounded despite whatever difficulties may surround me.
Hope as an Active Choice
In various wisdom traditions across cultures, there’s a common thread that speaks to hope not as blind optimism, but as an active practice – a choice we make and rebuild each day. In the LDS tradition, one definition for faith is that it is a hope in things that we might not see clearly right now, but that we believe in, and that we work towards realizing fully one day. Because of this, faith and hope are deeply intertwined in my mind.
The concept of hope as something that we actively choose resonates with me. It reminds me that hope is not a way to ignore or escape the challenges I face, but it is something that has to be built — actively, sometimes even painfully. For me, right now, hope means pushing forward even though it feels like things are falling apart. It means acknowledging the very real hardships, setbacks, and frustrations I am experiencing, but choosing to believe that actions of kindness, integrity, or courage – no matter how small – can still shift the tide and that they still matter.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
For me hope isn’t about being naive, or “staying positive”, it’s about resilience. It’s about showing up for each other and recognizing that every one of us has the capacity to bring joy and love to this world. It’s about actively choosing to fulfill that capacity in ourselves, even when we see others choosing paths of division or harm. Hope invites us to actively search for the good in humanity, not allowing despair, anger, or fear to blind us to the possibilities of positive change.
That is not an easy thing right now, because I can’t clearly see that goodness. But I have faith that it is there. And I have hope that it will be fully realized one day as we take small steps forward, supporting each other.
Lighting a Candle in the Darkness
If you’re feeling the weight of despair, anger, or fear right now – know that you’re not alone. Your feelings are valid. When the darkness feels overwhelming, remember that we don’t need to have all the answers or see the entire path ahead. Sometimes all we can do is light one small candle – through an act of kindness, a moment of connection, or a step toward something better. And when we join our lights together, even the deepest darkness can begin to shift.
This is the essence of active hope – not just believing in a better future, but working to create it, day by day, action by action. Whether we draw strength from prayer, meditation, community action, philosophical reflection, or simple acts of human kindness, I believe we can all participate in building this hope, together.
