Saturday, September 27, 2008

1 Nephi 17:4-5

"And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.
And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters."
1 Nephi 17:4-5


I think these verses illustrate the path that God leads us on.  Sometimes it is tempting to get through one huge trial and think that we're good, we've overcome the obstacles.  But life isn't just one hurdle.  You look at Nephi's family here... they were in the wilderness for eight years, and they get to this beautiful place, prepared by the Lord so that they wouldn't perish.  Awesome.  They made it, right? ... if you've read the rest of the story, not quite.  But God does give us rest stops sometimes, and helps us not perish.  :) The next hurdle for these guys is crossing the ocean.  That's huge... and after wandering in the wilderness for 8 years, that seems like a huge task.  But God prepared them for it, and made it possible.  We have things in our lives that seem equally impossible sometimes.  After dealing with one trial for years, God throws us another one.  But these things teach us and help us grow.  We are more prepared and ready to face the next trial.  And truly, God is leading us towards the promised land.  Perhaps it isn't a new geographical promised land for all of us, but it is where God wants us to be.  The perfect place for each of us individually.  Although our trials are sometimes unbelievably hard ("I just walked through the wilderness for eight years and now you want me to do WHAT?") ... God still doesn't give us anything that we can't handle, with his help.  So, let's keep going.  Let's take advantage of those rest stops when they come, and then, renewed and refreshed, let's start building the boat to take us where God wants us to be next.

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