Hope

I have been thinking a lot recently about my experience over the last seven months or so. I have made some pretty big life changes that have made me ponder a bit. It is still a bit crazy for me when I remind myself that I live in New York City. I am a college graduate. I am a teacher in East New York. I am working on my Masters. Is all of this real? Have I really been doing all of this for the last seven months? These are things that just blow my mind. 

As I’ve pondered, I think about the experiences that I have had thus far. There are definitely some ups and some downs. There always are in life. But for some reason I feel that this experience has somewhat amplified some of those ups and downs. I am not here to talk about how difficult life is, everyone experiences their own trials, but I want to share a little bit of insight that I have gained through my experiences recently.

The last few days have been interesting days for me. I don’t know what it is, but I have really felt the love of my Heavenly Father in my life a lot more recently. Not that it wasn’t present before, I have just felt it a bit stronger. Being out here on my own has really given me a true test of character and I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy. But as I sit in my apartment on a calm Sunday morning, I am reminded of the love that the Lord has for me. No matter what happens in my life, He is always there for me. He manifests that in so many ways, but sitting in my small Brooklyn apartment on a Sunday morning, I feel that just as much as I have felt it anywhere else. 

This morning I listened to Elder Packer’s talk from the last general conference entitled “The Reason For Our Hope”. As I listened I felt his strong testimony of the Savior, I was reminded of the hope that I have in the Savoir and His Atonement. Of this hope Elder Packer said, “A testimony of the hope of redemption is something which cannot be measured or counted. Jesus Christ is the source of that hope.” Our Savior is the source of our hope. He has made it possible for us to find peace in this life. Peace through the Atonement, no matter what is happening in our lives. I am reminded of John 14:27 which states “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The Atonement of our Savior gives us peace. Not peace as the world may view peace, but a peace that calms the troubled heart and gives us courage to face whatever may be happening in our lives.

I know that this peace is real and that we can have true hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I have felt that so much in my life and I would encourage any who may be struggling or wondering in any way to turn to the Savior and let that hope fill your life. I know that as you do you feel that peace more fully in your life and will feel the Atonement working for you individually.