“Safety can’t be won by tanks and guns and airplanes and atomic
bombs. There is only one place of safety and that is in the realm
of the Almighty God that he gives to those who keep his
commandments and listen to his voice.”
~ President Harold B. Lee
Why were the Nephites strengthened by the Lord? How can we
receive the Lord’s help in the challenges we face?
It's so interesting to me how sometimes we read in the scriptures that the Lord "fights" the enemies of HIs people himself (through extraordinary measures like the sea parting or the walls tumbling), and sometimes he requires a sacrifice of His people as they do the actual physical fighting - while He strengthens them. There are lessons to be learned in either circumstance, and the Lord certainly knows which lesson we need at any given time.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if a time of physical battles is coming back? Well, it IS back for some. Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and certainly the rumors and threats of war reach nearly everywhere. Will the spiritual battles we face today intensify even more and be added to physical fighting? It is hard to imagine how exhausting this could get, because I am exhausted with just the anxiety and sorrow of spiritual warfare.
I am helped, however, by the Book of Mormon in being able to identify evil intentions and philosophies (case in point - Nehor and Amlici), and it is also instructive to study how the righteous leaders and people handled these challenges and received strength in doing so. I suppose we just need to then practice what is learned from these accounts. Courage to stand up, alone sometimes, for right. To continue on the path despite all the mocking and scorn and threats of others. Sometimes I honestly don't feel the peace of it. Sometimes I just want to stop the world so I can get off.
But we have such a wealth of resources to help us today! We have to reach for them though... and use and implement these tools. We have to pick up our swords and cimeters and bows and arrows and be prepared to see some rough things. I signed up for this? Really?
Being in Jehovah's army is not for the faint-hearted, or faithless.
Great points! I agree... I love that you state that we do need to have COURAGE to stand up. And I am learning that it is so crucial to be able to stand on your own. That even though we can gain strength and knowledge from others, I am finding it the strength and support from others is more of a reprieve from the storm. The strength that is borrowed is just a time to regain footing or to straight the course that you are on, however, it is the sole responsibility of the individual to keep moving forward. Ultimately, there comes a point where we need to each choose who we will serve and we cannot rely solely rely on others. This is a hard process if one is not prepared for the storms and the trials that are ahead and one might find themselves being like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. I would like to add that yes I do believe that we will have to have a physical battle. I believe that both physical, mental and spiritual will have to go through the test to determine whose side we are on.
ReplyDeleteOn a more personal note: I am finding that this battle that was discussed between spiritual and physical is experienced in each of our lives personally. With training for the triathlon I am correcting all the poor behaviors and life’s choices I have done in the past. This is a hard process and every day I have to screw in my courage, determination and fortitude to move forward to achieve my goals. I am not only physical sweating that I am doing but am also correcting bad mental behavior. It is a chore! But - I will say that I do feel that following through with the goal I will be able to have to joy that is available and each day I have a small glimpse of what kind of joy that is available. Just like training for a triathlon - I believe that being true and standing for our beliefs and strengthening our testimonies in Jesus Christ - the joy that will be found will be far greater then I can even imagine, But we must go through the fires (physical/spiritual/mental) to get there. I do look forward to it.