Last night Karyn and I watched a video of Elder Bednar speaking at BYU. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqai9kqiSpw
He talked about "the enabling power of the Atonement," meaning Jesus Christ could give us the strength and power to overcome all difficulties. As Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) This does not mean that the Lord will remove all my problems, but rather will give me the strength to overcome them.
Elder Bednar gave the example of Alma and his people were in bondage and prayed for relief. The Lord told them he would help them, but not by immediately releasing them.
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, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
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 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 24:13-15
The Lord promised He would eventually take them out of bondage, but in the mean time gave them the strength to endure their afflictions. This may be a metaphor for life generally.
Jesus told His apostles: "In the world ye shall have tribulation..." (John 16:33) I think this means that as long as we are in the world we will have problems. To me this is such an important lesson. Perhaps I should not ask why I must suffer, or to be taken out of my trials, but rather ask for strength to endure and overcome them. I would be a fool to try to change the will of the Lord, for all things are given of the Lord, because that would prevent my growth. However, I can ask for strength to endure, which would encourage growth. The Atonement of Jesus Christ can give me strength to accept what He has given to me, and I can be grateful for all things, including the strength to overcome.
I have often wondered about praying for relief from sickness, pain, or hardship in any form. How can I pray my way out of hardship that is the will of the Lord? Do I change His righteous will? Does He change His mind about giving me a trial because I pray and ask, and believe He can? No. Paul went on to say:
I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Paul still had to suffer all these things, but he knew where his strength came from. He knew that nothing could happen to him as long as he was in the service of the Lord,or, rather, whatever happened to him was the will of the Lord. Indeed, the Lord told Ananias about Paul, "I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." (Acts 9:16) Paul understood this, and was happy to submit to the will of the Lord in all things: "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
When I make a covenant with the Lord, He is in charge of what happens to me. I can now live my life in His service, letting go of what I want to do, and learning to do what the Lord wants me to do. I think this is meant by, "becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19) Paul was indeed a Saint. Perhaps I could do the same.
This concept is so empowering to me! I don't have to be in control of every part of my life. I can let go of the worries and cares of the world, and focus only on the Lord, His Gospel, and living in submission to His will. Rather than trying to prevent or avoid suffering, I could ask for strength to endure and overcome. I worry so much about what's going to happen, praying for things to work out, when in reality Jesus Christ has made sure everything would be right in the end. I can understand that as long as I am in the world I will have problems, but these are for my instruction. There is so much peace in this. I don't have to worry about it. Letting go is so empowering! It is peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
I think I am beginning to understand the hymn, Be Still My Soul:
Leave to thy God to order and provide; In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,. Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
(Hymns, 124)
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