Life Isn't Fair

It is easy to see life as unfair.  If we take to comparing, we can easily find ways that life isn't "fair" to us, or to someone we love, or even to strangers.  Some people are healthy, some are not.  Some have lots of money, some are poor.  Some seem to be loaded with visible talents, while others have the quiet talents that may go unnoticed, even by them.  When we are feeling sorry for ourselves it might help to remember that life was the most unfair to Jesus.

Jesus came down, lived perfectly, was treated awfully, and then suffered for all of the sins He never committed.  We came down, and we do not live perfectly.  We sin on a regular basis, creating some of the unfairness for those around us, and yet, we do not have to meet the demands that justice would require. Christ already did that.   He gave us the gift of repentance and resurrection because He loves us so very much.

So, when we get stuck noticing how unfair and uneven things are around us, we can take comfort that Christ understands unfair.  He can be empathetic, comforting and helpful.  He suffered unfairly, and in so doing made it so that if we turn to Him fully we can be assured that the demands of justice have been met, and we will, in the end, have rewards that we do not deserve but that we will be very, very thankful for.

*Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Battle Fatigue From An Inner Civil War

So today was a lovely day -- until I was planning out the family schedule for the week -- and I let myself be afraid that I was going to mess it up, or do it wrong.  I often imagine the worst thing possible.  Somehow I'm going to make a plan and everyone will hate it and it will be my fault and they will probably all decide to rebel, and they might frown -- at me! 

It isn't reasonable to believe that my kind, smart family is going to suddenly decide the gospel isn't true just because I gave them one too many chores, or I didn't plan our Come Follow Me lessons just right!  I kept reminding myself that I am not powerful enough to wreck God's plans, and if the schedule I made doesn't work, it can be changed!

Later, I read a talk that Sister Holland gave at a devotional at BYU in 1988.  She said that if we are always busy battling ourselves in what she calls an "internal civil war", we will "have little power and energy left" when outside challenges come.  Outside challenges always do come, and they will be much harder to deal with if we have convinced ourselves we are worthless, or incapable, or bad, or dumb or any number of negative things. 

I wonder how many times I will need to learn this same lesson?  I need to follow Sister Hollands council to "Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend in need."  I hope, in the future, to avoid the battle fatigue caused by the civil war that is often raging in my head, and enjoy the peace that comes from trusting God, and accepting the gift of His atonement, and His love.

A Scripture For Me

"For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody."

2 Nephi 8:3

Sometimes when I am reading scriptures, I feel that a particular scripture is for me that day, and I can see how to put myself in it.  While reading this one, it struck me that I could put my name in the place of Zion.  Zion has more than one definition, and one is "the pure in heart".  While I am not saying that I am perfectly pure in heart, I do believe in Christ, and that He is helping me to become pure in heart through His grace, and His atonement.  So here's how I read it, and it felt hopeful, and comforting.

"For the Lord shall comfort [me], he will comfort all [my] waste places; and he will make [my] wilderness like Eden, and [my] desert like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness shall be found [in me], thanksgiving and the voice of melody."

Reading it now it brings the same hope and comfort.  I sin, and let myself down often, and it creates "waste places" in my mind, and in my life.  Christ comforts me.  He doesn't condemn me, but is there to heal me.  Life often feels like a tangled wilderness that I can't see my way through, and yet, the Lord can make that wilderness like Eden.  When I lack knowledge, or direction, or I feel alone or worn out, it is as if I am lost in a desert.  But the Lord is the Living Water and can turn deserts into gardens. 

With the Lord in my life I have more joy and gladness, and more gratitude. I feel "the voice of melody" in my life when I turn to Christ, and it is not a discordant melody, but a harmonious, joyful one.

*Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Leave Room For Faith. Watch For Miracles

I believe in miracles, but I also believe that I often keep them from happening by my lack of faith.  One of my biggest challenges has been that when I have felt broken, I would think, and think, and try to figure out what was wrong, and try to fix everything I might be doing that could be causing a problem.  I would try to grit my teeth, and work my way to a happier, unbroken state.  After focusing on any and all of my faults that I could find, I would pray for help -- but it was more of a plea from a drowning person who didn't have much expectation of being rescued.

I have learned that faith does not require me to dig up and think of every little flaw I have, or to focus on all of the ways I fail.  I am human and so I have lots of flaws and fail often. Concentrating on these things is exhausting and discouraging.  Faith requires me to do my best to follow the commandments and to be as good of a person as I can.  Heavenly Father will let me know if something needs to be fixed, and He will not be mean about it.  He will direct me to Jesus, and I can trust that Jesus' Atonement will provide the way for whatever is broken to be mended!

In everything I do, and in all of the ways I want to help, it is always best when, instead of gritting my teeth, looking for solutions with desperation, and carrying all of the weight myself, I leave room for faith.  When I do this, then I can watch for miracles, and they will happen.

He Lives!

When Connor came home, President Simmons (The Stake President) had him give a thought.  Connor told us about trying to teach someone, and that person saying that there is no way to know if there is a God or not.  Connor's companion answered by saying that he didn't used to know there is a God, but now he does, and Connor testified that He also had learned that there is a God -- not having known before.

God is our Father and He knows our name.  He loves us individually and sent Jesus to save us.  He shows us His love by giving us commandments so we'll know the happy way to live.  He shows His love by sending a prophet to guide us, and by giving us a chance to repent.  He listens to us as individuals, and guides us individually.  Salvation is available to us all.  It is free.

As I have studied during Easter week, and as I have welcomed home a son, it has been good to remember, and to hear that Jesus not only lived -- He lives.  He knows me.  He suffered a lot so that I would be able to come home and so that I can be resurrected too. 

"...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God ..."  (2nd Nephi 26: 33).

Jesus is my Savior, and yours.  He lives!

Easter: He is Risen!

The Garden Tomb

Most, if not all of us, have had someone that we love die.  Even if they were very old, or were suffering, it does not stop us from wishing they could still be here.  We miss them.  We also know that one day we will die.  No matter how well we take care of ourselves, our current bodies were not made to live forever. 

Easter is a day to be grateful.  Those we love will be resurrected.  We will be resurrected.  Our loved ones will be whole again, and we will not have to miss them forever.  All of us will have bodies that do not get sick, and are not broken in any way.  There has always been a plan for us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."  John 3:  16-17

Jesus carried out His part of the plan.  He decided that all of the pain He would suffer was worth it to save all of His brothers and sisters who want to be saved.  I love Him.

Happy Easter!

Easter Week: Thursday -- Jesus Prays For Me

A lot of things happened on the Thursday of the original Easter week, but today I want to focus on the fact that Jesus prayed for me twice that day.

The first time was when He gave what is called "the great intercessory prayer" recorded in St. John chapter 17.  Why do I say He was praying for me?  In verse 20 He says He doesn't pray for His apostles only but for "them also which shall believe on me through their word".  I have not seen Jesus like those original apostles have, but I believe they saw Him, and I believe their teaching and testimony that Jesus is the Son of God.  One thing He prays for is that the love the Father has for Him will be upon me.  I feel His love as I picture Him praying for me.

The second time He prayed for me was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, and began His atonement for my sins, and my suffering, and my sorrow.  I love Isaiah Chapter 53 -- especially verse 5.  "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

I love that He prayed for me, and was willing to go through such pain for me.  Today I will pray with gratitude for Him.

*Image used with permission from churchofJesusChrist.org