3 Keys to Seeing Light When You Feel Hopeless
By Amber Robbins
@amberrobbinsstands
As a mother to 4 children, past business owner, and marathon runner, I always thought I was tough. That I was resilient. I have so much faith. Faith to move mountains. That’ll cure or fix everything, right? I thought that I had grit and would make it through anything life could possibly throw at me. That was until I faced trauma (caused by a non-family member adult) for so long and to such great depths that it led to me being referred to a post-combat veteran trauma therapist with a PTSD diagnosis- I could no longer see the light.
We all have times of feeling strong and resilient, and we all have times where we feel weak and shaky. But what about the times when we find ourselves completely broken and hopeless? When all we can see is the darkness ahead and we can’t pick up the pieces to put them back together or move forward. Where do we go? What do we do?
I found that many people of my faith, including priesthood leaders, who knew what I was facing simply referred me and my family to “have faith,” “turn the other cheek,” “live above it,” and “endure it well.” The problem is that this is a situation that started out relatively easy to solve, yet I was told to what I call, “faith it out.” I diligently followed this counsel while I continued to face this challenge. During this time, I continued to fall further and further into a dark abyss.
The more I tried to put all my eggs in one faith basket, the more desperate for help I became, and the more I struggled, trying to figure out when waiting with faith would finally solve my problem as I had been counseled for so long that it would. One day I was led to a new priesthood leader who patiently listened to what my family and I had been patiently enduring. With equal parts conviction and compassion, he told me the eight words that changed my life. “Utilize the resources that are placed before you.”
These are the words that I had been desperately waiting for-the counsel to act. This inspired counsel by a righteous priesthood leader led to action on my part, getting help and working hard to move forward and heal. This has led to me to increased resilience, much joy and seeing the light once again. Through this process, I have learned that there are three key components to hope and wholeness.
Faith in Christ + Resources/Tools + Support from Good People = Hope and Wholeness
1. Faith in Christ is the foundation of all sources of hope, forgiving and healing. He is the “light of the world” (John 8:12). It is through Him that all things can be made right. He is, and rightly so, the main source of all wholeness. It is also through and in Him that the other two components of this equation work.
2. Utilizing resources and tools, while a lesser discussed component among those in our faith, is a critical component in the quest for finding hope and wholeness. We are here on earth to learn, to act, and to grow through our own efforts. Having faith doesn’t just mean waiting for Christ to heal us, it means that we have faith to take action. Elder Bednar reminds us, “True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that ‘faith [is] the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness,’ and that it is also ‘the principle of action in all intelligent beings.’” (Lectures on Faith [1985], 1). (Source: David A. Bednar, Ask in Faith, 2008 Conference Talk). There are so many inspired resources and tools available right now to assist us with the unique challenges we face today. A great number of these tools have been created by people who have faced the same challenges, and as such, like Christ, know how to succor and assist us. We have been invited recently by President Russell M. Nelson to focus on how we can best receive personal revelation in our lives and, “Hear Him.” This applies to how we can best determine which resources or tools may be best for us and our situation. It is also helpful here to remember the recent counsel from our dear prophet that, “The Lord loves effort.” While sometimes difficult, time consuming and painful, taking action by utilizing resources can help us become closer to Christ and more like Him as we work hard to overcome our challenges-whether caused by our own weakness or the fault or actions of someone else.
3. Finally, it’s is important to enlist the support of good people to help you. We weren’t meant to face this life alone. By seeking the assistance and support of family members, friends and professionals, we can be lifted up during the hard times. As we face weak or tired moments during the process of becoming whole, these people can give us strength, show kindness, and provide helpful insight. Allowing people to assist us also gives us an opportunity to bless their lives. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us, “As we extend our hands and hearts towards others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined and stronger.”
When we feel broken and can’t see the rays of the sun, we can turn to the light from His Son, have faith, get to work utilizing resources and tools, and seek the support of good people in the quest to healing and wholeness.