What to Think About the World Today

I believe we have every reason to be hopeful about the future. While wars, rumors, and speculation increase, we can find hope, joy, and true peace in the world. Hope can be found every single day if we know where to look. It can be found in a child's face as they play and learn. It can be found in the grasp of a couple's hands as they walk down the street. Hope can be found in a man taking his old dog out to the park for an evening game of fetch. Most importantly, hope is found in Jesus Christ. As we learn more about our Big Brother, we can have better eyes to see hope with. Learning about and coming closer to the Savior will strengthen our ability to see the good in the world, no matter where we are, what we've done, or what is going on in the world. 

    I've heard too many facts and rumors alike about nuclear war (did the cold war ever end?), inflation, abuse, disease, divorce and other trials and challenges that exist in the world today. Jesus knew these would arise. In the 13th chapter of Mark, verse 7, He explains that there will be news of wars and rumors of wars. However, He tells us not to be alarmed. Why? Why not be alarmed? These are awful things that happen to innocent people. God has provided a way to work through them. I don't think He's provided a way out, per se, because we can't ever truly escape the challenges of this life, but we can change our perspective, we can help each other, we can find hope in things that really matter. 

    While we can work together to decrease and mitigate some man-made trials, other challenges will remain. With the right mindset, no challenge or trial or hardship is the end. We can grow stronger. We come to know God's ways, find hope as He wants us to find hope, and we will be better off for it. 

    While the world is an uncertain place, I invite us all to make at least one thing certain: God loves each of us and has provided a Savior to help us return to Him. We can choose to focus on the bad and only see the bad, or we can choose to see the good and learn from the bad. God will help us make the right decisions.