No matter what you are going through, and I know some of you are going through very heavy stuff, there is always hope.
In this episode, I explain how and why I believe this, and one way to look at trials that will make it easier to have hope. We also discuss proving faith vs. perfecting faith.
Never stop hoping. No matter what.
Full Show Notes
Client example
About a year and half ago, I was working with a client who had some pretty extreme trauma earlier in her life and had basically been in and out of therapy with a variety of different doctors and practitioners most of her life. In one of our earliest sessions she asked me if there was really hope for someone like her who had suicidal thoughts.
The only thing I could say was the truth: “There is always hope. You might not ever totally overcome your trials, but then again you might.”
I was surprised as she told me that all the doctors and therapists and everyone she had sought out for help had always told her there was no hope and she would just have to learn to live with her negative thoughts.
My thought? How do they know? None of us can tell the future, so why NOT hold out hope?
Now, I hear you saying, “But lets’ be realistic!”
But which is the real world? The world we live in or the eternities?
I choose to believe that the eternities are the “real” world since they last longer. This client happened to share my faith, so it made sense to her too.
She told me several times after the first session how helpful it was to work with someone who believed she could change and hoped for the best.
I’m hoping to offer you the same compassion.
There is Always Hope
No matter what you are going through, and I recognize many of you are going through some very dark, heavy, tough stuff, there is always hope. Please choose to believe that.
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, and I think sometimes when we tell ourselves or others to be “realistic” what we are really saying is “Magic doesn’t exist. If something is broken or shattered, we can’t just magically repair it to the state it was in before it broke.”
But with the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can. He is that magical!!
He may not go around repairing broken stoneware, but he does heal hearts, minds, and people. To the state in which they would be if they had never been wounded in the first place.
It feels so good for me to believe that; how does it feel to you?
Perfected faith vs. Strengthened faith
One of my amazing clients who struggles with a heavy burden of mental illness sent me this quote:
When someone has an ailment or an illness and they are healed as a result of a blessing, their faith is being strengthened. But for those who aren’t healed, but continue faithful, their faith is being perfected. The first is a faith-promoting experience. The second is a faith-perfecting experience.
April 2011 Ensign Magazine
Just think about that! Is your faith being strengthened or perfected?
It doesn’t take away from the feelings and burdens you experience. That is still very real. AND there is always hope. AND your faith may being perfected.
Become
Our trials are necessary for us to BECOME the person we are meant to become.
For example, if you never try to fast, you will never become a person who can handle fasting.
If you never go through the process of lifting weights, you will never become a physically strong person.
If you never attempt to keep the Sabbath day holy, you’ll never become a holy person.
So your burdens, while heavy, help you become a new person. Don’t make it more difficult by resisting your burdens.
I HOPE this helps you have hope.
Denita
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