When the Sun Goes Down in Difficult Times - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Remember, remember God loves broken things. The cycles of life are obtained through broken things – clouds break to bring forth rain, to hydrate wheat, to bring forth flour, to make bread, to feed us.
The Lord loves a broken heart and contrite spirit. Covenant children are required to sacrifice.
In night moments, we may ask, why am I doing this? What is going on? We must hang on, as those difficult moments will matter down the road.
Do not flee at your chance to make a sacrifice. Don’t flee a broken heart and contrite spirit. It’s your turn to put something on the altar. Don’t miss your chance to make your offering.
Somewhere inside us we try to avoid a broken heart and sacrifice, but when sacrifice comes, please see it through. Believe there is a plan and that it has meaning.
Dreams and plans are not gone, but trust that it is your turn to put them on the altar for the time being.
We may say, “I’m all for long-suffering, but I don’t want it to take long and I don’t want to suffer.”
As true disciples of Christ, wherever He walked we too must walk. Be committed to the idea of discipleship. We all have to spend some time in the Garden of Gethsemane to take on true discipleship.
Night does come, but this is not the time to fold your tent and leave. When you’re in the middle of those nights, endure and save yourself for days of happiness ahead.
Recognize we have blessings more than we have hard times.
Be strong, square your shoulders. This is a Church of happy endings, so hang on.
The path you say you can’t walk, you walk. The burden you say you can’t carry, you carry.
We have the seeds of God within us. We are being taught who we are, who God is, and recognize those seeds of divinity within.
Think of the Savior as He asked, “Is there any other way?” He too questioned during the night. How else are we going to find out who we truly are then through sacrifice?
Everything comes line upon line. We must live the life that creates divinity. We work and learn to achieve it with Heavenly Father’s help.
How do we learn patience, charity, and forgiveness? We get chances to practice all the time. Don’t resist when God gives you a chance to develop a Christ-like attribute.
Accept Mortality: Things get broken and bruised, but we must see it through.
The sun may seem like it will never come up, but it will. We require strength from God to learn through the process.
When difficult times come, I forbid you from saying, “Well, I guess God doesn’t love me.” That is blasphemy! Don’t ever say that to a God who loves us beyond measure! God loves us with every fiber of His divine soul. When we are in the darkest times, God loves us more than any other time in our lives.
Elder Holland shared the story of President Hunter dying of cancer. Elder Holland went to visit him, which is not allowed, but he strongly felt the need to do so. As Sister Hunter opened the door of their apartment, Elder Holland heard the most unearthly scream. Elder Hunter was very close to death and experiencing incredible pain from cancer. Each one of us suffers in this life.
Mark 4 - Apostles in ship come upon a strong storm. The apostles awake the Savior, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Who knows how the Lord looked at them….“Why are ye so fearful?” “How is it that you have no faith?”
Don’t you think God can fix it? He can take your little life and make it dandy. Why are we so fearful and how is it that we have such little faith?
God is looking for people who can manage the storm. We are going to get there and we need less fear and more faith.
This is the Church of happy endings. Storms do calm, winds do subside, and will do so sooner if we have less fear and more faith.
Closing Hymn requested by Elder Holland – Abide with Me ‘Tis Eventide
Absolutely loved this - Thanks for sharing it Tahlea!
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