After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is

Hear the words of William R. Alger, whose voice rings with the calm certainty of eternal truth: “After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” This is no idle comfort, but a hymn of endurance, a reminder that life is a cycle of trials and renewals. The storm is fierce, yes—it batters the spirit and darkens the skies. But storms are never endless. The sun, though hidden, is never extinguished. It will return and smile again upon the earth. So too with the trials of life: every wound has its healing, every question its answer, every sorrow its consolation.

The ancients knew this rhythm of nature and of the soul. They spoke of the eternal balance—day follows night, spring follows winter, and peace follows war. Heraclitus said, “The sun is new each day,” reminding us that renewal is written into the very fabric of existence. Alger gives this truth a moral weight: since the sun always returns after the storm, so too must the human spirit return to cheer after sorrow. It is not a choice only, but a duty, for the soul must honor life by rising again, no matter how great the fall.

Consider the tale of Nelson Mandela, who endured twenty-seven years of prison beneath the storm of injustice. To many, such years might have crushed hope forever. But Mandela emerged not with bitterness, but with a radiant smile, carrying reconciliation rather than vengeance. The sun had not abandoned him, and in his forgiveness the world saw that every problem can find a solution, even those rooted in centuries of hatred. His life embodies Alger’s truth: after darkness, light will come, and the soul must be ready to greet it with good cheer.

History also recalls Abraham Lincoln, who bore the unbearable weight of civil war and personal tragedy. He lost children, endured ridicule, and watched his nation tear itself apart. Yet those who knew him remembered his humor, his gentle smile, his ability to find a kind word even in sorrow. His cheer was not denial of suffering, but the courage to endure it. Lincoln understood, as Alger teaches, that the soul’s greatest duty is not to despair but to carry itself through trial with a spirit that uplifts others.

The meaning of Alger’s words is this: life will bring storms, but they are not permanent. They test the heart, but they cannot erase the eternal promise of renewal. To despair as though the storm will last forever is to forget the laws of heaven and earth. For just as surely as the sun smiles after rain, so too will solutions be found for every hardship. The soul, then, must not surrender to despair, but cling to cheer—for cheer itself is the vessel that carries us to the other side of the storm.

The lesson for us is clear: cultivate resilience, the sacred ability to see beyond the storm to the coming sun. Do not let fear persuade you that your trials are endless. Know that solutions exist, even if hidden from your sight. Your duty is to remain of good cheer, not as shallow optimism, but as a deep, unyielding faith that life itself bends toward healing and light.

Practical action follows naturally. When trials press upon you, lift your eyes beyond the storm, reminding yourself that it will pass. Train your spirit to endure with patience, and to seek solutions rather than sink into despair. Share your smile with others in their storms, for your cheer may be the light they need to endure. And when the sun returns—and it will—rejoice not only for yourself but for all who weathered the darkness alongside you.

Thus let Alger’s wisdom be carved into memory: “After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” It is a call to courage, a hymn of hope, and a commandment to joy. For storms are fleeting, but the sun is eternal, and the soul that keeps its cheer becomes a light to all the world.