I know that given the fact that my name is Faitth, people may assume I am always full of joy and hope. I try my best, and I’d like to think of myself as an optimistic person—someone who can see the bright side on the other end of hard things, someone who is ready and willing to jump into new endeavors—yet lately, I’ve been feeling cautiously optimistic. This current phase of my life has been filled with many joys and some sorrow. We are more than four months into the year and pressing forward and staying optimistic have felt more complicated than usual.

When speaking on the floor of the legislature after he was voted out, Tennessee representative Justin Pearson said, “Resurrection is a promised prophecy to a persecuted people! You can be assured that resurrection and restoration are coming!” Those words pierced my heart. I have been holding onto hope for the things I am believing for, but to be honest, my faith has been the size of a mustard seed. Just a little bit of faith and a little bit of hope.

I remember a conversation I had with a friend about the woes of adulthood—the heartaches and the bright sides. We talked about our financial goals, who our friends are, and what we hope to accomplish this year. It was a sweet reminder that we could continue to hold those tensions, heartaches, and bright sides, hand in hand, and still be at peace.

I am also making peace with the fact that I am in a new phase of life, one where I am cautiously optimistic. I may not have the same level of enthusiasm right now, and that’s okay. We expect ourselves to be superhuman and bounce back from hardship with ease, but I don’t think that is possible. What Representative Pearson reminded me of is never to give up, to keep hoping, and to believe for miracles even when things feel bleak.

In my personal life, I need this reminder now more than ever. I have to keep marching. I cannot give up on myself or allow my disappointments to dictate how I show up daily. I have to choose hope. Lately, I have been repeating to myself, “God has not forgotten about me.” I know that I am not alone. I know the things that feel impossible and daunting can be accomplished.

I think of the strength of our ancestors who helped each other during the darkest times. They found a way through, a way to survive and fight for a better life—that hoping against all hope, the belief that the way things are today isn’t the way things will always be.

Maybe you are like me, struggling to hope and find your way forward. Maybe you are waiting on a new job, for love to enter your life, for a child, a new home, a raise, or something else that is important to you. The truth is we are all longing for something we feel is missing from our lives, and we don’t always get what we want when we want it. This can make hoping—day after day and year after year—feel futile. But I hope you find encouragement in Rep. Pearson’s words, “Resurrection is a promised prophecy to a persecuted people! You can be assured that resurrection and restoration are coming!”

My sisters, if you find yourself feeling hopeless and on the edge of giving up, remember to keep hope alive.

When it feels hard, how do you—how can you—fight for hope?