When life seems like it is pushing us, when hope seems dim, when the burdens feel heavy, have hope. Remember that a loving God will never allow us to experience more pain than we are able to bear. He will rescue us as we turn to Him and have faith in Him. He will lift us on His shoulders and give us peace. He will open heavens view to us, and we will truly become more like Him.
Halloween, the night of witches and goblins and treats is widely known and is enjoyed by millions of children. Less is known however of Hallows Day, or All Saints Day (November 1st), a day that celebrates all Saints, and the strong spiritual bond between mortals and angels. It is interesting to me to note that the night before the day of the Saints is the night of witches and ghosts and goblins.
Throughout history, evil, darkness and fear have proceeded light and goodness and joy. The best example of this is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The deepest hours of darkness and pain ever experienced proceeded the most glorious and triumphant day of light of His Resurrection and then ascension into heaven. The contrast between darkness and light is powerful and meaningful.
In the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a moment is told of a young boy named Joseph Smith who prayed to know the truth. As he prayed alone in a grove of trees he experienced great darkness and confusion which proceeded a glorious vision of wonder and light in which God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to him.
It is a pattern we see throughout the world and through history. Just before the miraculous moment of a child’s birth, the mother experiences some of the greatest anguish she can ever experience. After a night of thunder and rain, comes a morning of fresh clean air, sunshine, and occasionally rainbows. Before the harvest of wonderful fruits, comes sweat and toil and patience. The joy that comes of a healthy body is proceeded by sweat and exertion.
It sometimes seems to me that a loving God allows us to experience the full measure and contrast between dark and light, pain and joy, anguish and peace, so that we will know to understand and appreciate the sweetness, tenderness, peace, and joy of light. Life is not meant to be purely joy. We are here to experience sadness also so that we will know to appreciate the joy.
As a little girl I learned this lesson. I can remember going into a store with my family after an event. I loved candy so much that I made the poor decision to take some without paying for it or telling anyone. On discovering my mistake, my Mother lovingly returned me to the store and invited me to pay for it. I can remember feeling some of the deepest embarrassment and shame that I had ever experienced up to that point in my life. I can also remember the pure peace and relief and joy as I walked out of the store to feeling lightness in my heart and the sunshine on my face. I had learned my first lessons in honesty, repentance and forgiveness.
No one truly desires to experience bitterness or toil, but can we truly appreciate the joy of rest and sweetness without it? When life seems like it is pushing us, when hope seems dim, when the burdens feel heavy, have hope. Remember that a loving God will never allow us to experience more pain than we are able to bear. He will rescue us as we turn to Him and have faith in Him. He will lift us on His shoulders and give us peace. He will open heavens view to us, and we will truly become more like Him.
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