It's been a while since I've last posted anything, life is crazy! But I'm back and excited to share a profound insight I had today. It was one of those tender moments that kind of take your breath away when you realize the Lord is speaking directly to you and is perfectly aware of your current feelings and circumstances. It was something I needed right now, and I'm sure there are others who need it too, so I'm going to share it in hopes that it might bring comfort to any and all who read this. :)
There are times in life when we put in the work, we do our best, and we keep pushing forward in the face of adversity only to find ourselves disappointed and discouraged when some of our deepest desires remain unfulfilled and some of our most important prayers remain unanswered. We compare ourselves to others and our lives to theirs and wonder what we could have done differently or why our sincere efforts haven't been recognized by the Lord. Have you ever felt this way? I have on more than one occasion, and it can be very easy to get caught up in the idea that you've been forgotten or aren't good enough for the blessings you desire so deeply. However, this negative thought process is very far from the truth and shifts our focus off of our purpose here in mortality. I learned a valuable lesson today that has helped to broaden my perspective and understanding on this topic and on the true character of our Heavenly Father.
In Romans chapter 4, the apostle Paul writes to the Roman saints about Abraham from the Old Testament to teach them about faith and what sincere righteousness looks like. As we know from the Bible story, Abraham and Sara, despite their old age, were blessed with a son whom they named Isaac. It was a very great and surprising blessing and is a beautiful example of how the Lord keeps His promises to us when we follow Him, even if we have to be very patient for those blessings to come. In describing Abraham, Paul writes:
18. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be
19. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb
20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God
21. And being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham's great example teaches me how to hold on with faith to the Lord's promises, even when desired blessings don't come immediately despite our best efforts and our most earnest prayers.
My favorite part of this story, however, is that when God finally blessed Abraham, he blessed him abundantly. Not only did Abraham become a father to his beloved Isaac, but he became a father to the nations. The Lord kept his promise, despite the seemingly impossible circumstances. This hit me. There are going to be times in life when our deepest desires remain unfulfilled for what feels like forever, even when our efforts seem to justify us that we deserve otherwise. We will experience loss, heartache, and unwelcome change. BUT just like the story of Abraham, we can rest assured that not only will these experiences work for our good as we come close to the Lord during times of trial, but all will be made up, restored in full, and given abundantly, whether in this life or the next. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, every one of God's children will experience this blessing if they choose to take it, and I think that's a beautiful reminder during those days of discouragement.
Our Heavenly Father loves us and desires to bless us with everything that He has, even if those blessings don't come immediately and we have to trudge through the deep valleys of hardship and trial before they come. I love Him and can testify that He always keeps His promises. Because of my Savior and His atoning sacrifice for me, hope replaces my discouragement and oh how I love him for that. I love all of you, keep trusting and hanging on to the blessings our Father in Heaven has promised you. They will come, and when they do, they will come abundantly.
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