Faith Points to the Future
From Music and the Spoken Word
Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell
Whenever we start something new—whether it’s a new
year, a new day, a new project, or a new goal—it typically means putting
an end to something old. Even when it’s a positive change, it can be
hard to let go of the familiar past and step into an uncertain future.
But while we certainly can’t live in the past, we can always learn from
it. Jeffrey R. Holland expressed this truth in these words: “We look
back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes.
. . . Then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed
toward the future."1
Faith is believing and hoping that no matter how things have gone in
the past, they can get better. Faith is forward-looking; it empowers
and inspires us to action; it moves us to do more and to become better.
This kind of faith is robust and realistic; it is not fairy-tale or
make-believe. Consider the great challenges throughout history that have
been overcome by courageous people—including yourself! Yes, you’ve made
it through tough times and done hard things before. With that ringing
endorsement from the past, you can face the future with faith. An
overwhelmed new mother knows she can become a good mom because, if
nothing else, she has learned how to love. A first-semester college
student knows she can tackle a busy term because she has worked hard and
managed her time before. A man bravely battles a crippling illness
because he knows this is hardly the first challenge he has faced.
Even if the new year, new day, or new challenge seems more difficult
than anything you’ve faced before, the fact that you’ve come this far
reveals that you have it in you to succeed. Draw strength from the past,
but don’t get stuck there. Look to the future with faith, and remember
that the seemingly small victories you collect now are laying the
foundation of great success in the future.
1 “The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign, Jan. 2010, 24.
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