The Transformative Power of Hope

Over 70 years ago, John Hopkins professor Curt Richter conducted a cruel experiment that teaches us about the transformative power of hope. He took some wild rats and, one by one, placed them in a slippery container full of water and then... waited.

Most of those rats, after only a few minutes of trying to escape, gave up and let themselves drown. But if Professor Richter scooped up a rat that was going under for the last time and saved it, the next time he put it in that milk bucket it wouldn’t swim for a few minutes and give up. It would swim for an average of 55 HOURS.

When the rats were struggling and believed their situation was hopeless, they would give up; but once the rats knew there was a possibility of rescue, that hope would keep them swimming for days!

That’s the transformative power of hope.

How does that transformative hope relate to us, and to today's reason to smile?

The gospel of Jesus Christ brings with an incandescent hope! We are never alone in our mortal trials. Our Savior Jesus Christ is there for us. He offers all of us an escape from sin and spiritual death. He will protect, comfort and support us. We are loved, we are seen, and when we are struggling, we know He understands what we are going through, because he already suffered through it Himself. And that makes all the difference in the world.

Hope. That’s today’s reason to smile!