“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit” (Romans 15:3).

Can you describe a moment when things felt too difficult, and you were ready to throw in the towel? Maybe the seemingly insurmountable challenge occurred at work, with managing new responsibilities, dealing with plans for a project gone awry, collaborating with colleagues with opposing views, meeting clients’ demands, or grappling with work/life balance. Then, suddenly, when you were in the depths of despair, a person, event, or opportunity made its presence known, and it was exactly what you needed to get back on track with renewed hope.

For me, it came once in the form of a four-legged visitor. It was a chilly late autumn morning at a gateway to the Italian Alps. My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I were just starting our upward hike in a secluded area. Only a couple of years earlier, I had climbed all 144 flights of stairs of the CN Tower in Toronto for charity, so I was no stranger to steep elevation—or so I thought. After hours on the ascending path, I knew I was struggling. I did not want to admit defeat, but I hit a wall.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a rugged, grey, medium-sized sheepdog appeared and timidly waited an arm’s length from me. I’m a dog lover, so his presence was exactly what I needed to finish the hike. Upon exiting the trails, my canine hero took the opportunity to silently slip off back into the greenery, perhaps on his way home or maybe to accompany another hiker in need. I like to think that it was the latter.

We all encounter moments of hopelessness as we journey through the steeper climbs that life inevitably brings. However, there is always hope, and as Catholics, that hope culminates in Christ’s resurrection, which we celebrate at Easter. But there is also hope in the here and now, as God never abandons us. Here are three ways to be mindful of His continual presence in your life.

Look back on your week, and identify the moments where it all worked out.

Reflect on the activities or occurrences of the past week with the goal of pinpointing the moments where, in hindsight, you got through a tricky situation.

Write down times God concretely acted in your life.

Keep this list in a place of easy access, such as in a note or voice note on your phone, posted on your workstation, or in whatever format and location works best for you. Refer to this list when you need a little reminder of hope.

Aim to do one simple act of kindness a day.

Practice the virtue of kindness. Even small actions can brighten up a bad day and serve as a reminder for others of the good in the world.

The Lord walks with us up and over the mountains that we inevitably encounter—and all the types of terrain in between. Are we aware of His presence? These tips can be particularly useful during moments when we experience hopelessness on our own individual journey.

Sarah Gagliano Taliun is a genetics professor with many interests in addition to studying DNA. She and her husband now call Montreal home. When she is not reading a scientific article or meeting with students, Sarah can be found experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, reading her Bible or taking a walk in nature.