Keeping HOPE.

Life is a time to gain experience. Some of us gain experience through success, others through sorrow. All of us at some point or another have or will pass through a time of grief. A time we feel utterly alone. A time we wonder if we can push through and continue on. We all have our hour of darkness. An hour that feels as though we wish we were no more. 

There is a lesson I have learned from a book of mormon missionary, Ammon, in his very hour of alone-ness, when he is about to give up, and throw in the towel he is reminded, and comforted through the lord to not turn back. To not give up his hope.

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Alma 26:27

(For those unfamiliar with the book of Mormon, the Lammanites are terrible to the Nephites, They are set on the destruction of the Nephites.)

We all have our Lammanites in life, moments bent on our destruction where it feels as though the world is pulling on our shoulders, when we can hear the whisperings of temptation "Give up, just turn back.. you will never be good enough" "Why do you look ahead with hope? You have done all of these things wrong" "You are not a real missionary, you're sick all the time..." "Those people don't care what you have to say.. why would you even try?" "Just give up already, quit trying. you are to weak" 

The Savior has promised in John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." He later says...
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

He has promised us that we would be comforted in hour very hour of need. Go back to you fears, your trials, your temptations and face them with Jesus Christ. No power of evil is strong enough to over come you when you have Christ at your side. He over came the world, he over came the temptations and weaknesses, he never gave up so that he could help you when you want to cry "mercy" and wave the white flag of truce. 

Christ can not, and he will not leave if we do whatsoever thing he asks. If we are pushing our hardest on a diligent path of obedience, if we are doing our part to over come and to achieve, he is bound. He can not leave. he will not leave. 

Be patient and trust, in his own time he will come and he will build you up and strengthen you. He will assist you and deliver you. Fight the battle with courage and be not afraid. Satan will laugh mock and scorn, he will try to shake you a move you. Be not moved, stand firm in Christ, he is cheering you on and is thankful that even though you feel as though you have failed him you have not given up the fight. Stand firm in Christ and he will give unto you success. You will make it through. 

"Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece" 

 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Keep the faith. Keep the hope and you will be given the successs you wish. Keep righteous, keep loving, and keep moving forward in Christ :)