Messages of Hope

In the introductory paragraph for this week’s Come, Follow Me lesson it reads “Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah…weren’t just prophets of doom-they were prophets of deliverance. The descriptions of destruction are tempered by invitations to come unto Christ and receive His mercy.” As we understand that God always offers us hope during the dark times, we can read these books and look for the messages of hope that shine through the darkness.

Nahum

• 1:7-The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
• 1:15-him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!

Habakkuk 

• 1:5-I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
• 2:4-the just shall live by his faith.
• 2:14-the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
• 3:18-19-I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord is my strength.

Zephaniah 

• 3:14-Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart.
• 3:15- thou shalt not see evil anymore.
• 3:16-Fear thou not
• 3:17-The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy
• 3:19-I will undo all that afflict thee

Our prophet, President Nelson, also shares messages of hope that shine through the darkness of our day. I read through his most recent talk about Overcoming the World and looked specifically for the messages of hope he gives to us...There were a lot! Here's just a sample of the ones I found.

• "In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior's power that the world has ever seen."
• "Between now and the time He returns 'with power and great glory,' He will bestow countless privileges, blessings. and miracles upon the faithful."
• "Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples-and keeps them-has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ...this power eases our way."
• "Covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God."
• "as you truly repent and seek His help, you can rise above this present precarious world. You can overcome the spiritually and emotionally exhausting plagues of the world."
• "Living the doctrine of Christ can produce the most powerful virtuous cycle, creating spiritual momentum in our lives."

Pres. Nelson has said "the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." (Joy and Spiritual Survival). Looking for, and focusing on messages of hope that come from our prophets and apostles can help us feel more peace and joy in a world that can so easily feel scary and overwhelming.