4 Things To Give You Hope Today

This article originally appeared on AllProDad.com and reflects their mission and beliefs.

One night, my eight-year-old daughter asked me to lay down with her as I was putting her to bed. So I did, and I was so tired I immediately began to drift off to sleep. Often, when I’m going to sleep, I feel like I’m falling and suddenly wake up startled. That’s what happened and my daughter has seen me do it a lot. She said, “Did you feel like you were falling? Here, take my hand. That way, when you feel like you’re falling, you’ll know that I’ve got you.â€

Life is difficult. When obligations pile up, pressures reach a boiling point, and the challenges seem insurmountable, we can start to spiral downward. In those moments, hope grabs hold of us and sometimes can be the only thing that keeps us going. We all need hope, especially when our situations feel gloomy. If you are going through something difficult, or to prepare you for future challenges, here are four things that bring hope today.

It may seem like this tumultuous time will never end, but it will. Life moves in seasons and seasons change. If you’re seeking wise counsel, acting with self-discipline, and remaining faithful to your family, friends, and coworkers, your situation will improve. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there are times to tear down, weep, and mourn, but there are also times to heal, build, laugh, and dance. Your time to do the latter will come.

When you ask people who don’t like running how they’d feel running 10 miles, they shudder. But if you ask someone who has run a marathon, 10 miles seems like nothing. Struggles tend to build endurance, grit, and determination. They also give us a deeper sense of empathy. Your integrity can also grow stronger when you stay honest and maintain moral values while being pressured to abandon them. And if moral failure is your challenge right now, this is your opportunity to rebuild.

Challenging circumstances can make our stories better. Every great story involves some kind of suffering, low point, or struggle to overcome. You may look back at this moment many years from now and be grateful for it. There may be more difficult times coming that will cause you to look back and remember your triumph now. Or perhaps what you’ll remember is that you made it–and that you can make it again.

When good things come easily, we can take them for granted. My wife’s cousin was in the U.S. Marines and when circumstances are tough, he often says, “Well, we’re not in a ditch getting shot at.†Bad times give us perspective and a greater appreciation of our blessings. The longer it takes to receive something good, the more we cherish it.

Sound off: What gives you hope today?

This article originally appeared on AllProDad.com and reflects their mission and beliefs.