This post is based on July 2013 Ensign Article called "A Time for Faith, Not Fear." by Elder Larry W. Gibbons. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Article. Elder Gibbons mentioned,
“Be not afraid, only believe” is wonderful, reassuring counsel for all of us. But how can we have faith when the storms of life beat all about us? How can we strengthen our faith when anxiety and fear begin to dominate our thinking and erode our faith in God and our confidence in the future? I offer some reminders and suggestions I hope we will remember in difficult times.
Trials and difficulties are a necessary part of life and not a sign that the Lord has forgotten us or is displeased with us. Life is a test. Trials may come even if we are seeking to put the Lord first in our lives. One of the reasons we are here on earth is to strengthen our faith. Difficult, dark days are a necessary part of life and give us an opportunity to build our faith and learn to rely on a power far greater than our own.
“Lift up thine eyes” (Isaiah 60:4).
When your difficulties seem overwhelming, look up, not down. When sadness and despair start to get a foothold, remember this: the Atonement of Jesus Christ did more than overcome physical and spiritual death. Yes, we will all be resurrected, and all of us have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins as we repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ. But as wonderful as the gifts of resurrection and repentance are, the Atonement is much more. Through the Atonement we can receive strength to meet the most difficult trials of life.
When we look up to the Savior, we can be strengthened beyond our own abilities and beyond what we can envision with our mortal understanding.
God has armed you for your trials.
You have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and you have the right to receive revelation every day. At times revelation may not come as quickly as you might like because the Lord gives us opportunities to grow and develop our abilities according to His knowledge of us and what we need, but He will guide us through the Holy Ghost. And if we are worthy, He will not let us go very far in the wrong direction without warning us.
Turn the matter over to the Lord and wait patiently.
Sometimes after we have fasted, prayed, and done all we can do to dispel clouds that have not parted; after we have gone into the dark and expected further light that has not appeared; after we have lived the commandments through difficulties that remain unrelenting we simply need to turn things over to our Heavenly Father.
Listen to Church leaders.
President Uchtdorf has said: “I have seen enough ups and downs throughout my life to know that winter will surely give way to the warmth and hope of a new spring. I am optimistic about the future.”
President Eyring has said: “Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be.”
And President Thomas S. Monson has said: “There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”
I encourage you to the read the whole talk in your own time. Here's the link below.
www.lds.org/ensign/2013/07/a-time-for-faith-not-fear
“Be not afraid, only believe” is wonderful, reassuring counsel for all of us. But how can we have faith when the storms of life beat all about us? How can we strengthen our faith when anxiety and fear begin to dominate our thinking and erode our faith in God and our confidence in the future? I offer some reminders and suggestions I hope we will remember in difficult times.
Trials and difficulties are a necessary part of life and not a sign that the Lord has forgotten us or is displeased with us. Life is a test. Trials may come even if we are seeking to put the Lord first in our lives. One of the reasons we are here on earth is to strengthen our faith. Difficult, dark days are a necessary part of life and give us an opportunity to build our faith and learn to rely on a power far greater than our own.
“Lift up thine eyes” (Isaiah 60:4).
When your difficulties seem overwhelming, look up, not down. When sadness and despair start to get a foothold, remember this: the Atonement of Jesus Christ did more than overcome physical and spiritual death. Yes, we will all be resurrected, and all of us have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins as we repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ. But as wonderful as the gifts of resurrection and repentance are, the Atonement is much more. Through the Atonement we can receive strength to meet the most difficult trials of life.
When we look up to the Savior, we can be strengthened beyond our own abilities and beyond what we can envision with our mortal understanding.
You have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and you have the right to receive revelation every day. At times revelation may not come as quickly as you might like because the Lord gives us opportunities to grow and develop our abilities according to His knowledge of us and what we need, but He will guide us through the Holy Ghost. And if we are worthy, He will not let us go very far in the wrong direction without warning us.
Turn the matter over to the Lord and wait patiently.
Sometimes after we have fasted, prayed, and done all we can do to dispel clouds that have not parted; after we have gone into the dark and expected further light that has not appeared; after we have lived the commandments through difficulties that remain unrelenting we simply need to turn things over to our Heavenly Father.
Listen to Church leaders.
President Uchtdorf has said: “I have seen enough ups and downs throughout my life to know that winter will surely give way to the warmth and hope of a new spring. I am optimistic about the future.”
President Eyring has said: “Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be.”
And President Thomas S. Monson has said: “There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”
I encourage you to the read the whole talk in your own time. Here's the link below.
www.lds.org/ensign/2013/07/a-time-for-faith-not-fear
Stay Tuned until next time.
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