Come Follow Me - Week of September 6th

This week, we are studying D & C: 98-101.

These are HARD sections.

HARD.

The Saints are basically being tormented.

And it's not going to get better for a MINUTE.

Yet, God continues to tell them to "Take Comfort."

"Look for the good."

"Don't retaliate."
"Forgive."

Timely.

SO timely.

Thankfully, Becky Beck sent me a YouTube video to go along with this week's topic.

Here are Heidi's thoughts on these sections at this very time in my life:

There are times when, if Heavenly Father was a mortal friend, I'd have some serious boundaries with Him.

There are times when I'm not even sure I'd consider Him a friend if He was a mortal friend!

I feel so much compassion for the saints in these sections.

Life is SO hard for them right now.

And yet, God is aware of them.

He DOES see them.

But, for whatever reason He does not take these trials away from them.

In fact, the trials get worse and worse before Nauvoo comes.

And, Nauvoo DOES come.

But not before horrendous trials.

Let's break down my feelings:

1. Take Comfort. "In what," I often ask. What would you like me to take comfort in? Where can I find that comfort, Father?

2. Look for the good. I am actually pretty good at finding SOMETHING to be grateful for. However, there are times in the midst of the hardest trials when it just feels impossible. So hard to find the good. 

3. Forgive. Don't retaliate. Just forgive. 

Let's dive into this one. 

I had a conversation with myself OUT LOUD as I drove home from Utah County on Saturday. I had a good hour, if not more, to really discuss this aloud in the car.

First, there are times when we are just not truly ready to forgive someone or something. And, that's okay. BUT, there is always something we CAN do. 

For me, in a current horrific trial, I am not ready to forgive the people involved.

But, what I can do is put their names on a post-it note and place it in my Jesus Box.

This is the box that I use to symbolize me putting my trials at Christ's feet.

I can put this trial at His feet, not take it back, and then actively work to forgive.

Forgiveness doesn't just come and that's okay.

But there is always something that we can do.

Second, I asked myself a question:

"If there was one trial that I could not have had to go through, which one would I choose?"

As I went through the hardest of hard trials we have had, and let's be real - there are a lot and they are REAL bad...

I can honestly say I would not take any of them back.

That speaks volumes about our Father's plan for us.

In the deepest of despair, at the lowest of low times, in the midst of hurt and agony that my children and I have felt...

I wouldn't take any of them back.

Be Still.

Know that He is God.