Where Can We Find Hope?

            My Come, Follow Me studies took me to Jeremiah 30-52 and Lamentations 1-5. The lesson was titled “I Will Turn Their Mourning into Joy.” The lesson was introduced by the following information:

 

When the Lord first called Jeremiah to be a prophet, He told him that his mission would be “to root out, and to pull down” (Jeremiah 1:10)—and in Jerusalem, there was plenty of wickedness to root out and pull down. But this was only part of Jeremiah’s mission—he was also called “to build, and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). What could be built or planted in the desolate ruins left by Israel’s rebellion? Similarly, when sin or adversity have left our lives in ruins, how can we rebuild and plant again? The answer lies in “the Branch of righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:15), the promised Messiah. The Messiah brings “a new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31)—one that requires more than a superficial commitment or the outward appearance of devotion. His law must be “in [our] inward parts,” written “in [our] hearts.” That is what it really means for the Lord to “be [our] God” and for us to “be [His] people” (Jeremiah 31:33). It’s a lifelong process, and we will still make mistakes and have cause to mourn from time to time. But when we do, we have this promise from the Lord: “I will turn their mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13).

 

            As with all scripture blocks, this one has several principles. The book of Lamentations is a collection of poems that were written after Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. The principle that I wish to discuss today comes from Lamentations 1; 3: “The Lord can relieve the sorrow we experience because of sin.”

            The writer of Lamentations was lamenting over his and his people’s distressed conditions. He expressed his thoughts in a Hebrew poetic form.

 

“In true prophetic vein the elegist puts himself alongside his countrymen and entreats them to return to the Lord and to seek reconciliation with Him. Let them examine themselves in the light of His commandments which they have transgressed, and let the lifting up of their hands to God in heaven be accompanied by the lifting up of their hearts also, i.e. let their prayers for pardon be true and sincere. Let them know too what it feels like to be unpardoned, to be under God’s judgment still (v. 42b), and they will come to appreciate all the more the wonder of His forgiveness.” (Guthrie and Motyer, New Bible Commentary, p. 662.)

 

            The writer understood that it would not be easy to obtain pardon for sin. The rest of chapter 3 indicates that the petitioner will continue to plead for relief despite God’s unwillingness to hear. The writer exhibited a great deal of hope. President M. Russell Ballard spoke of situations that may cause the loss of hope, and then he offered some counsel about where to find hope:

 

Some of us may find our lives laden with frustration, disappointment, and sorrow. Many feel helpless to deal with the chaos that seems to prevail in the world. Others anguish over family members who are being carried downstream in a swift, raging current of weakening values and declining moral standards. … Many have even resigned themselves to accept the wickedness and cruelty of the world as being irreparable. They have given up hope. …

… Some among us may have lost all hope because of sin and transgression. A person can become so deeply immersed in the ways of the world that he sees no way out and loses all hope. My plea to all who have fallen into this trap of the adversary is to never give up! Regardless of how desperate things may seem or how desperate they may yet become, please believe me, you can always have hope. Always (“The Joy of Hope Fulfilled," Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31–32).

Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. … Faith in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, is absolutely essential for us to maintain a balanced perspective through times of trial and difficulty (“The Joy of Hope Fulfilled,” 32).

 

            Those are the words of an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. They can be trusted. The Lord has power to help us overcome all problems through the power of His Atonement.