"Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord."
Doctrine and Covenants 98:1-3
These verses are amazing, but as we look at them closely, we see that there is zero promise of immediate relief. God was listening, and promising to grant, the prayers of his people, but also saying that the suffering that they were going through would work for their good.
Sometimes our lives are like this... good and bad, promise and suffering, hardship and joy. We don't necessarily want it to be that way, but as we learn more about God and about the earthly experience, I think we learn that it is always going to be that way in this life. There are going to be ups and downs, and usually a mixture of both. God might not bring us out of slavery, but he will strengthen us so that we can bear our burdens with ease. He might not give us our dream jobs, but he will show us how to make a difference. Our lives might not be what we first thought was ideal, but God can make them more than we ever dreamed, and he gives us the power to make a difference.
Even in the scriptures we read about people who did seemingly small things, but those things made a difference. The widow and her two mites... the servant in Lamoni's household who knew what was happening when everyone around her collapsed. People who refused to pray to idols, or who begged for a crumb from Christ. Faith doesn't always move mountains, hold back seas, or change the world in other ways that seem immediately earth-shattering, but like a river wears away the rock, all of our small acts of faith still shape the landscape around us.
Today, let's have faith that our righteous prayers are heard and will be granted in the good time of the Lord, and meanwhile, let's learn and grow and make a difference within our current circumstances, trusting the Lord to guide our way.
Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord."
Doctrine and Covenants 98:1-3
These verses are amazing, but as we look at them closely, we see that there is zero promise of immediate relief. God was listening, and promising to grant, the prayers of his people, but also saying that the suffering that they were going through would work for their good.
Sometimes our lives are like this... good and bad, promise and suffering, hardship and joy. We don't necessarily want it to be that way, but as we learn more about God and about the earthly experience, I think we learn that it is always going to be that way in this life. There are going to be ups and downs, and usually a mixture of both. God might not bring us out of slavery, but he will strengthen us so that we can bear our burdens with ease. He might not give us our dream jobs, but he will show us how to make a difference. Our lives might not be what we first thought was ideal, but God can make them more than we ever dreamed, and he gives us the power to make a difference.
Even in the scriptures we read about people who did seemingly small things, but those things made a difference. The widow and her two mites... the servant in Lamoni's household who knew what was happening when everyone around her collapsed. People who refused to pray to idols, or who begged for a crumb from Christ. Faith doesn't always move mountains, hold back seas, or change the world in other ways that seem immediately earth-shattering, but like a river wears away the rock, all of our small acts of faith still shape the landscape around us.
Today, let's have faith that our righteous prayers are heard and will be granted in the good time of the Lord, and meanwhile, let's learn and grow and make a difference within our current circumstances, trusting the Lord to guide our way.
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