Do you ever get worn down? Is it difficult to keep going? Does it seem like there’s nothing to hold on to that will keep you moving forward?
Life hits all of us pretty hard sometimes. And sometimes, even when life itself doesn’t seem that tough, you can still get worn down just from the constant effort of all your responsibilities, including staying on the gospel path.
It isn’t that you really want to leave. You’re just tired of feeling like the effort isn’t getting you anywhere. And tired of the effort itself.
You keep going. You do. You know what you want in the long run, and though the long run feels, well, long, you tell yourself it’s worth it. It will be.
The fact is, we all need spiritual boosts once in a while. A solid reminder that the efforts we’re making are worthwhile. That we aren’t expected to be perfect in our efforts, we just need to make the efforts. That when we’re broken – as we ALL are, in one way or another – we have someone who can heal us, put us back together.
So that’s what we’re doing today. Taking a moment for a spiritual boost.
The Coming Glory of God
When life is really wearing, sometimes what we need is a reminder that God’s glory will come, even if it’s hard to imagine right now. I love these verses in Doctrine and Covenants:
3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.
6 Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;
7 And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation, and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand;
Doctrine and Covenants 58:3-7
At first, the reminder that tribulation is necessary may be unwelcome, but when you stick with these verses, you see that they give us hope in the glory and design of God. God has a plan. That plan is unfolding, and though it can be difficult, there is hope to keep us going in the future. Christ will return.
You and I have the opportunity now to build Zion. We can do this where we are, right now. If we do as the prophet and scriptures direct, we will help prepare the world for Christ. God wants us to be part of this effort. Christ invites us to be part of it every day. We can see the miracles of the cause of Christ.
Christ Understands and Heals
How comforting is it that our Savior, Jesus Christ, knows us intimately and individually? He’s experienced the lowest of the low, the worst of the worst, and lifts us so we don’t have to. If we want His help and salvation, He will give it to us. If we want to follow Him, we can. The desire is enough to qualify us as His. It’s enough for us to be healed.
As Alma the Younger told his son:
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
Alma 36:17-21
Christ gives us healing when we don’t deserve it. That’s what mercy is – undeserved compassion and blessing. He gives it because we need it. The only real restriction on Him and His Atonement is whether or not we’ll accept them in our lives and be healed as a result. Nothing can restrain us from Him when we truly desire to come to Him, no matter how broken we are. Christ wants us to come to Him broken because He’s the one who can truly heal.
You Have Strength On Your Side
God calls us His “little ones,” His children. He is with us in all we do, and He builds upon our strength. Sometimes strength comes like this:
14 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.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren 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.
Mosiah 24:14-15
The Lord built their strength over time. Some of that strength was physical, but I think more of it was spiritual and emotional strength so they could choose patience and cheerfulness despite being in bondage. It may not have been the strength they wanted at first, and it probably didn’t come as quickly as they wanted, but it came. The strength was built, and once they had that strength, they couldn’t be beaten down again.
Sometimes though, the Lord gives this kind of strength:
26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;
33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.
Doctrine and Covenants 121:26, 33
God’s strength can’t be overcome, and when we rely on His strength, we can’t be overcome either. He will empower us, build us, and “pour down” strength and more upon us.
Life will still have its wearing, challenging times. But when we remember where our true strength lies, who it is we can turn to, and what it is we’re working toward, we will choose to keep going.
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