In this life, you perceive only the suffering that is directly before you and not the blessings that are yet unseen.
Why keep moving forward deeper into the darkness when the light always comes slower than the darkness and in ways that seem fleeting and insufficient to make it worthwhile? Hope provides the answer.
But what are you to hope for? Paul said:
...Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
How can you hope for what you have not yet seen, heard, or thought about? How can you hope for what you can’t even imagine?
An understanding of the law of equal and opposite is the key to having the tenacity of hope required to obtain great joy in life. The Lord explained this principle when he explained the outcome of those who have lost everything for his sake:
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19)
For every possible suffering in life there exists an outcome much greater than the price. If you believe Jesus, you can have peace so immense that you can be free from fear and anxiety, in spite of anything the world can do to you.
Hope in God is always possible, no matter how dark your situation may be. The Lord is the light, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5) The light shines in all things and through all things, even if all things are not aware of it.
This description is not figurative. You may feel like you are drowning in darkness, but in reality you are always surrounded by incomprehensible amounts of light.
You can find immense joy in anything, anyone, and any situation if you trust God enough to endure the specific set of lessons required to unlock your ability to perceive and comprehend the light and darkness in it.
When we are surrounded by darkness, we ought to hope for equal and opposite joy. We ought to realize that, although the full details of how it will happen and of what it consists lie outside our present understanding, we will indeed encounter joy that surpasses all the pain and suffering we have experienced.
Not only is God just, he is not arbitrary. Everything you endure is limited to exactly what is necessary in order for you to gain the equal and opposite. “But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” (2 Nephi 2:24)
God ensures that “...all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory...” (D&C 98:3)
These are not trivial concepts. They are powerful, and embracing them will strengthen you against any trial in life and beyond.
For instance, Stephen had enough peace while being stoned to death that he prayed for his assailants. Isaiah was able to be sawn in half without doubting his mission and purpose.
The Lord himself was focused enough to arrange for the care of his mother, address the needs of a man crucified with him, and pray for the soldiers who nailed him to the cross, all while suffering maximal physical and unimaginable spiritual affliction on the cross.