A Path Out of The Darkness

I’ve always had internet access. As a child, I would play games on the family desktop. As a teenager, I watched YouTube videos on my dad’s iPad. As an adult, I go about my day listening to podcasts and watching video essays. I read the news, scroll through Reddit, and chat with my friends.

Despite being supposedly in control of what I encounter online, it’s alarming how often I encounter awful true crime stories. These things soak into my brain, pulling me into a downward spiral. Stories I’ve heard years ago can pop back into my head and keep me awake all night. The balance of “good” and “bad” in the world seems so off—the bad outweighs the good so greatly that no amount of good could change anything.

This Easter time, I am reminded that there is a solution, that there is hope for goodness to prevail, and that there is hope for all those who have suffered. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, has tipped the scales through His sacrifice.

In Mosiah 14, we read:

“4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Beginning in Gethsemane and ending on the cross, the Saviour atoned for the sins of all mankind. He took our suffering upon Himself so that we can be healed. This sacrifice is unimaginable, intangible; He experienced every single pain there could ever be. Are we deserving of such a gift? Certainly not, we never could be. But Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ gave us mercy and a pathway back to them. We can experience peace and healing in the midst of life’s challenges, and we can grow and become better.

Sister Carole M. Stephens said:

“Sisters, I testify that—

You don’t have to continue to carry the burden of sorrow caused by sin—alone.

You don’t have to carry the pain caused by the unrighteous actions of others—alone.

You don’t have to experience the painful realities of mortality—alone.”

We cannot avoid pain and sorrow—it is a part of life. But we can get through it with the Saviour beside us, He who fully understands and feels our pain. He has lifted the burden so that it doesn’t crush us, so we can heal and progress, and eventually become like Him.

As we navigate the challenges of life and the difficulties we encounter in the world around us, we can find solace and strength in the hope offered through Jesus Christ. His Atonement assures us that no matter how dark life may feel, there is a path to peace.