Come Home

I have been contemplating much on the idea of hope…hope for a future unknown, hope for love, hope for joy, salvation, and hope for every desire of our hearts. Hope. It is a word used flippantly, but holds so much power. How many of us truly hope? How often do we ignore the bitter darkness of lost dreams and focus above on the ray of light illuminating our hopeful future? Too little…too little.

I used to wallow in the dismal expanse of circumstance; only seeing the wasteland of shattered pieces lying about me never once looking above to see the sky clearing and that silver lining giving way to glorious sunrise. Like so many, I focused on the things I did not have and the things I was not able to achieve. I tried to remain happy, but it was a losing battle; faith was shaking and I was slowly breaking. The winds cried around me, screaming “Why? Why me? Why can’t I be happy? Why do I deserve this?” Why, why, why? That’s what I constantly fought against.

Then, one day, a ray burst through the clouds. It was brilliant, blinding, and filled me with warmth. While I basked in its illuminating glow, I was able to forget where I was. It no longer mattered! I had my ray of sunshine and I was warm. I was joyous. Without thinking I slowly followed that ray of sun as it led me through my troubled path. There were times I strayed from its’ reach, but I was always quick to return. The more I concentrated on the sky the more I noticed the clouds dissipating, replaced with beautiful sky. Eventually I was able to look around…and my world had changed.

The barren wasteland had transformed to a green sea bursting with colors and life. A blue clear sky spread from horizon to horizon and the sun beamed its dazzling light across the expanse of my world. Everything was lush and vibrant, radiating joy and happiness. It was intoxicating and welcomed me in with open arms.

I find myself in tears as I wander in this amazing world. There are mysterious paths here and unknown terrain, but I do not fear them. My sun stills illuminates those roads. There are places, too that are familiar and inviting. I often spend time in each of these, content to let time happy roll along, in no fear that I’ll miss anything while I enjoy my moment. And yet again there are shadows of distant memories, my past world still lingering here and there. I don’t dwell on those. There isn’t much light, so I don’t see the point. I walked and learned all those roads and I will not return. I found my light, and I will go wherever it reaches.

I found my hope. Through the darkest most miserable point in my life it was able to give me a ray…a glimmer. My ray was Christ. My glimmer was His words of peace. I latch onto Him…and as I focused my attention on His warmth, the clouds became thinner and I slowly followed Him to a new place. His light opened my world, and in that world I have found everything, everything I could have dreamed of. But it started with that ray of HOPE.

“Hope guides us it’s what gets us through the day and especially the night”. I love these words. If there was more hope in the world, sadness would decrease, loneliness would flee, and love would abound. If people hoped more and mourned less, each life would change for the better. The end of the journey wouldn’t be an end, but a glories opening to a new beginning.

I know that there are so many who will read this and feel there is no hope for them. In theory it is a nice sentiment, but in there reality, no clouds are breaking, and no rays are beckoning. To you let me tell you, the key to the clouds is this.

“Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” –Ether 12:4

Believe in GOD. Believe on His name. Believe the Father of your souls and the creator of all things would not leave you abandoned and alone. His light will reach you if you but cast aside your doubts and fears, whatever they may be, and seek out the light behind the clouds.

No matter you pain, no matter the hurt you face, He will comfort you. The Savior felt those pains, He is ready to succor.

No matter how black you past, no matter how deep your sin, He will forgive you. The Savior has already paid for those mistakes, He is ready to welcome you HOME.

Come to him. That is my plea. This is your hope. By looking upwards and seeking for him, you will find His light beckoning you on to a better world.

I know so many who are standing where I stood…who may be even more lost than I was.
Come back. Come join me. There is Hope for you; there is light and joy beyond your wildest dreams. Don’t stay lost in your own state of self-loathing, of pitty, of anger and depression. Find that light. It is there, I promise it is there. It will come to you during your “trial of faith” if you but seek it and welcome it.

We are not alone.

We are loved beyond measure.

God and His Son love us more than we can imagine and they are waiting to welcome us home.

This is hope.