Today is a day of sadness for America as we commemorate the sixth anniversary of the World Trade Center bombings. However, it is not a day for despair. God wants us to have hope in all our trials, and today is no different.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, in his Ensign article “The Hope of Joy Fulfilled,” November 1992 said:
“My message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful to not overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!
But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. The prophet Mormon taught: “Ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
“Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.” (Moro. 7:41–42.)
Jesus Christ is the source of all light and hope. He is the pathway, He guides us through the darkness, and He lifts us up when we have fallen. There is no trial bigger than Him. There is no war bigger than Him. There is no terrorist more powerful than Him – He is sovereign.
In a talk given at the Marriot Center in January of 1995 entitled “A More Excellent Hope,” Russell M. Nelson said:
“I bring a message of hope. Regardless of how desperate things may seem, remember—we can always have hope. Always! The Lord’s promise to us is certain: “He that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome.” I repeat—there is always hope!”
The only time we must give up hope is when we choose to go it alone and refuse to let God help us. I pray we never make that choice. Jesus Christ atoned for us in Gethsamane – not just for our sins, but for our sorrows. He took upon Himself our fear, our discouragement, our fright, our uncertainty. We do not have to suffer those emotions alone—He already suffered them for us, if we will but give them over to Him and allow Him to carry them.
Many are frightened because they have sons and daughters who are currently serving in the Middle East. God watches over them with a tender loving heart—don’t forget, those are His sons and daughters serving, too.
In all things, we can have hope. Hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day, hope that we will yet be reunited with our loved ones, but most of all, hope for a glorious returning of the Son of Man. All the trials, all the war, all the upheaval, is leading up to this—the day when Jesus Christ will return and redeem us all.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
The Lord’s purposes of sure; on that we can always rely. It gives me hope.
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