SPS: Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

I had a wonderful weekend in Portland, witnessing the wedding of my very best friend Joanna to the most wonderful Chris.  Before the actual ceremony, the brother performing the sealing made a comment that immediately touched my heart and made me think of this scripture from Isaiah.

He said that Joanna and Chris "had been walking towards each other" all their lives.

I love this thought, both for its imagery and its truthfulness.  And I love how this thought relates to this scripture.  We might have our own thoughts, our own plans, but I have learned through many experiences - some painful, some not - that Heavenly Father's thoughts and plans are much, much better.  And He will lead us through His ways, on His path until we end up where we need to be.

This applies not only to marriage, but to every aspect of our lives.  Careers, friends, talents.  One way or another, we are walking towards what we need in order to have the ultimate joy and happiness.

SPS: Mark 4:36-41

"And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

I can't even begin to describe how perfectly this story from Christ's life reflects some of the hardest trials of my life.  With the rain pounding, the waves rolling, the ship rocking, I have been forced to my knees and cried out, "Master, do you not see that I am having a hard time?  Do you not see that my heart is breaking?  Do you not see that I have no strength left?  Carest thou not that I perish?"

In my weakest moments, I fall prey to the adversary's lie that no one cares that I am struggling, that I am alone in my trials.  Time and time again, though, that lie is replaced with the eternal truth that the Savior does care, that family and friends do care, that I am not alone.  In His own way and in His own time, the Master always comes to my aid and calms the storms, just as He did for His disciples.  The winds and the waves truly must obey Him, and His reassuring voice can be heard above the noise of the storm, if only we are willing to listen: "Peace, be still.  Be not afraid.  Have faith.  I am here, always."

As dear friends have shared with me some of their own personal trials and struggles in life, I know that we have all felt this way - like the storms are never-ending and our constant cries to heaven are falling on deaf ears.  I testify, though, that heaven hears.  I know that the Master is always listening, is always watching, is always mindful of how much we can bare on our own.  He is aware of the weather in our life, and He will always lead us out of danger and into the sun once again.

See also: Hymn no. 105 "Master, the Tempest Is Raging"

SPS: Hebrews 10:35-36

In my church, we have a program for children, ages 3-11, called Primary, where they learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel through lessons, activities and songs (if you have never been in a Sacrament Meeting program put on by the Primary children, you are missing out on one of life's greatest joys - they are just so darn adorable). I have very fond memories of my time in Primary, and I am grateful to leaders and teachers who helped nourish my testimony of the Savior at such a young age.

One of the songs the Primary children sing is called Scripture Power, and I love the simple, but important message: 

Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can

I'm reading His instructions, I'm following His plan

Because I want the power His word will give to me

I'm changing how I live, I'm changing what I'll be

Scripture power keeps me safe from sin

Scripture power is the power to win!

Scripture power, everyday I need

The power that I get each time I read.

I'll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.

I'll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.

I'll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord

And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward

Scripture power keeps me safe from sin

Scripture power is the power to win!

Scripture power, everyday I need

The power that I get each time I read.

In an effort to strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel, I've decided to start a new weekly blog post: Scripture Power Sundays.  My goal is to share a scripture each week, as well as my own personal thoughts about how the verse(s) applies to my/everyone's life.  I hope my words can be a benefit to others who read them, but I mainly want to do this for myself.  Countless prayers have been answered because I was humble enough to turn to the scriptures for help, and as I move forward with my second year of teaching, I know that I will need all the help I can get.

This week's scripture is Hebrews 10:35-36.

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

I've read and heard this scripture many times before, but today a young man who is preparing to serve a 2-year mission shared this during his talk to the congregation, and I was reminded of the great truth that Paul is teaching: As we go throughout our lives, striving to life righteously, encountering trials and hardships along the way, we cannot lose our confidence, or faith, in the Lord.  If we hold to that faith, if we are patient and continue to do what the Lord has asked us to do, He has promised to bless us with the greatest of all the gifts of God: eternal life.  

I imagine a person who has experienced disappointment and heartache; a person who is physically and spiritually exhausted from trying to do the right thing, wondering when the trial will end, when the blessing will come.  I imagine this person ready to give up on everything they have worked for, not because they don't believe, but because they are just so tired and battle-worn.  I then imagine the Savior lifting this person up off the floor and gently saying, "Cast not away therefore your confidence.  Don't give up.  Be patient.  I am with you always.  The blessing will come, I promise."

This person is me.  This person is you.  This person is anyone who has ever had a hard time.  And the promise is the same to everyone: Have faith, be patient and I will bless you.