Monday, December 8, 2008

Trials: Be of Good Comfort


This last week was quite a tough one for our little family. We hit bumps and pot holes continuously throughout the week. We had one particular trial that seemed to take all of my energy and emotions - it seemed to take over all of me. It was an overwhelmingly emotional week. It was draining and frustrating and sad, and very dissapointing. One day I may write more personally about the whole situation but it is still too fresh and I think to wait some time may be good for me.

But as I have been dealing with this trial along with the many other bumps and holes we hit throughout the week I have been gratefully blessed with a peaceful assurance that my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ are there - that They know me, that They care about me, and that They will never leave me. I have felt the peace of knowing that my Father in Heaven does listen to my heart-felt prayers. That my Savior does understand - that He does know what I am going through.

At moments I am still overwhelmed and I am still brought to tears but the other night I was blessed to be guided to these wonderful verses:

Mosiah 24:13-16
"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort...

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

And now it came to pass that the burdens...were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

I know that I was visited by the Lord during these trials. I know that I have been stregthened and taught.

The last line in these verses says, "Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage." The following day after I read these verses my trial did not dissappear but I felt a greater peace, a greater amount of comfort, and I felt like I could lift my head a little and smile.

I know that we are all watched over and cared for. I know that we are not left to fight our trials on our own. I know that we are loved by our Heavenly Father and by Jesus Christ and that they will never leave us but will visit us in our times of need and will give us comfot if we will have greater faith and patience.

3 comments:

Mom B said...

Your post reminded me of the word "mindful". Heavenly Father and Jesus are mindful of us. And you are right, they do know what we are going through. And, in fact, because of the atonement Jesus has been through it too so He can succor us. My favorite thing about trials is that they have taught me empathy. Because of them I am able to succor others.

Tim Malone said...

From one regular reader who appreciates your essays, thanks for this one. In addition to what Mom D shared about our Heavenly Father and Savior being mindful of us, and your point about being of good comfort, I always ask myself, "What does Heavenly Father want me to learn from this experience?" Sometimes I don't learn very quickly so the experience is repeated until I get it. Does that ever happen to you?

Brooke Jones said...

I remember reading Mosiah 24 many times when going through what seemed a never ending trial. I too agree with Mom B that often my trials have allowed me to have empathy and be more able to help others in the future.