We are called to allay confusion with hope

“Waves of suffering and sorrow are breaking over one place after another”, wrote the Universal House of Justice in this year’s Ridván message, while of the Bahá’í community they wrote, “we are supremely confident in your fortitude and your determination to see the journey through.” The quotations following and attached are offered as sources of insight and inspiration in these tumultuous days.

The transformation of the earth

This Youth hath come to quicken the world and unite all its peoples. The day is approaching when that which God hath purposed will have prevailed and thou shalt behold the earth transformed into the all-glorious paradise.
— Bahá’u’lláh, in Summons of the Lord of Hosts

Hope and optimism are our prerogative

We must expect these things: It is becoming evident that the world is not yet through with its labour, the New Age not yet fully born, real Peace not yet right around the corner. We must have no illusions about how much depends on us and our success or failure. All humanity is disturbed and suffering and confused; we cannot expect to not be disturbed and not to suffer — but we don’t have to be confused. On the contrary, confidence and assurance, hope and optimism are our prerogative. The successful carrying out of our various Plans is the greatest sign we can give of our faith and inner assurance, and the best way we can help our fellow-men out of their confusion and difficulties.
— From a letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 9 April 1949 , in Unfolding Destiny

Compilation on achieving race unity

In a PDF file attached, we share with you a compilation prepared at the Bahá’í World Centre, entitled “Achieving Race Unity and Advancing the Process of Entry by Troops”. In our support for the effort to overcome racism, which is so central to the aims of our Faith, our effectiveness is hugely amplified by the resources of understanding with which the Supreme Body provides us.