Light in the Midst of Chaos
It doesn’t take much to feel the weight of the world right now.
Scroll through the headlines and you’ll see it—wars and rumors of wars, corruption, hatred, natural disasters, tragedy upon tragedy. Even in our own communities and families, division and discouragement can feel like the loudest voices in the room.
Many people are quietly asking: Where is God in all of this? Is there still hope for the future?
The world can seem as if it is plunging deeper into chaos, and when we measure our hope against the 24/7 news cycle, it’s easy to feel that faith is slipping away.
But here’s the truth: appearances are not the whole story. This isn’t the first time humanity has been shaken. And it won’t be the last.
Anchored Beyond the Storm
Scripture and history remind us of a crucial truth: darkness has always pressed in—but so has the light.
The psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Even when nations raged and kingdoms fell, God’s sovereignty was unshaken. Jesus Himself warned that in the last days, “men’s hearts [would] fail them for fear”(Luke 21:26), but He followed with words of comfort: “See that ye be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6).
Faith doesn’t mean pretending the world isn’t broken. It means remembering Who holds the world in His hands.
What Hope Really Is
Hope is not naïve optimism or blind cheerfulness. It is an anchor.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf once said, “Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us.”
Hope is rooted in God’s character. If He is faithful—and He is—then His promises remain sure. That means even the smallest faith, “as a grain of mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20), can move the mountain of despair that threatens to overwhelm us.
How We Hold On
So what does that look like in a life that feels saturated with bad news?
Anchor in eternal perspective. The world measures by quarters, headlines, and popularity polls. God measures in eternity. His story is bigger than the current chaos.
Look for the good. Every act of kindness, every hand lifted in service, every child’s laugh is proof that light is not extinguished.
Practice hope daily. Prayer, scripture, gratitude, and service are not small gestures. They are soul force disciplines—candles that push back great darkness.
Remember history. Every revival, every restoration, every renewal of faith began in times that looked impossibly dark. God does His best work when things look impossible.
Wrestling With Doubt
If you are struggling with faith, you are not alone. Doubt is not the opposite of faith—it is the soil in which deeper faith can grow. The Lord does not ask us to have perfect confidence. He asks us to trust Him enough to take the next step.
Alma taught that even a desire to believe can be enough to plant the seed of faith (Alma 32:27). That seed, if nurtured, grows into something strong enough to withstand any storm.
Choosing Light
The darker the night, the brighter the candle shines.
Our world may look darker, but that only makes the light more visible. You and I are called to be that light. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14).
The news will change tomorrow. God’s promises will not.
So when your heart grows heavy, when hope feels faint, remember: God is still God. Goodness is still alive. The story is not over.
And maybe—just maybe—you are called to be the reminder of that truth for someone else today.
Closing Reflection
Darkness cannot overcome light. Hate cannot overcome love. Despair cannot overcome faith.
The world needs more people willing to live that truth out loud. May we be among them.
