Turning to the Lord for Comfort

There is a song called "I Am" that has particularly impactful in my life recently. It was shown to me by my Book of Mormon teacher, and it has been in my life ever since.

It is a story of a woman who turned to the Lord many times in her life at different stages and trials. She called Him by the names that she knew him as, as well as why she needed from him at the moment she needed him. 

With each plea she makes a different statement that represents the different stages that we all go through with our faith and reliance on him.

1. "Come if you can"- I'm not sure if you love me, but if you do help me

2. "Be my best friend"- I am alone, are you there?

3. "Hold onto my hand"- I can only do this with you

4. "Lord and King, Beginning and the End"- Thy will be done

I want to go through each of these stages, and the importance that they have in our lives and faith.

"Come if you can"

This is the earliest stage of our faith. How can we know of the truth without first a hope in it. Hope that the Savior is there. Hope that what we are being taught is true. We are unsure if he is there or truly loves us. Not us as a people, but the individuals that make up the "us." Our first questions are: "Are you there?"

"Do you love me?"

"Is the Atonement real and can it work in me?"

When we ask with a hope of an answer, really wanting to know, He will respond ,"I AM."

Ether 4:12-15 helps us to learn that we need to first gain a belief in the scriptures and the words that He has spoken. It begins by getting rid of the questions of unbelief and turning them into questions we want to know the answer to, hoping for answers. When we do that, great and marvelous things will be revealed to us.

"Be my best friend"

Just because we believe in the Lord, it doesn't mean that everything is going to be perfect and easy. Once you have faith, it has to be tested. Ether 12:6 states that after the trial of your faith, a witness of the truth comes. During these trials, loneliness might come. It might feel like you are abandoned by everything and everyone. Still, there is one, ready to be there for you, if you call for him. And when you do, your faith becomes a little more solidified. Hope becomes belief that He is there and cares for you.

From Alma 7:11-13 we learn that He did not just suffer for your sins. He suffered ALL. Every little pain, tear, heart break, unkind word and temptation that you have felt and will feel in this life. Why are you so important? Why do your pains matter? In D&C 18:10 He says your should is of great worth. From the one who has all power, you are great to Him. He knew this life would be difficult. So He suffered everything that "his bowels of mercy may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." He wants to be there for you. You just have to call for him, and ask him to be your best friend. He won't fail you.

"Hold onto my hand"

As we make Him our best friend, we will see just how difficult our tasks in this life will be. Sometimes pride will turn us into the three year old that says, "I can do it by myself." Then we will inevitably fail. We will pick ourselves up again to try once more, only to fall back into the mud. It is when we are brought into the depths of humility that we see his hands extended to us (Jacob 6:5). When we reach for it, we will not want to let go until we pass through the trial. That is when we will cry to hold onto our hand. And He will. It is only when we, ourselves, let go that we will fall again. But when we cling with all of our might to the Savior's hands, we can pass through the rocks, over the hill-climbs, stay out of the crevices, and be brought back into His presence. As we do this, our faith will become knowledge. We will know and trust Him. We will not want to do anything without his help and strength.

Ether 12:27 teaches us that we are given weaknesses, or stumbling blocks, so that we will see and know who is in charge. So we can see who it is that is changing us and helping us home. When we are humble, believing that he will help us change, that is when we can make weaknesses strengths. With the strength of the Lord, we are unstoppable (Philippians 4:13).

"Lord and King, Beginning and the End"

When we make this plea, this is a sign of true conversion. We fully recognize who is in charge and that His plan is greater than ours. Then we can say at the end of our pleadings to Him, "Thy will be done." We will be truly like the Savior when we say "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42), "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), "Behold thy mother!" (John 19:27), and when we have done all that is required of us, "It is finished!" John 19:30. No longer will matters of the world be our wants and desires. Our own needs will not be first. We will want to do the Lord's will first, the see to the needs of others. When both are done, we will see our needs will become filled.

In Alma 22:15 King Lamoni's father promised that he would "give up all that I posses, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this joy." He did just that and received numerous blessings. The final part of receiving true peace and comfort is giving all to the Lord, willing to do whatever it is that is required of us. When we do that, we will have the peace of eternal life and exaltation. Nothing can be greater than that. 

I have had experiences with each parts of these stages, although I don't claim to be all the way through each stage fully. My experiences with each of these parts don't matter. What matters is that you have your own experiences in these stages. That is when you will learn, having your unbelief turned to hope. Your hope turned to faith. Your faith turned to knowledge. And your knowledge turned to true conversion. 

I know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father and our Redeemer are there for each of us so that we do not have to climb through our trials alone. I have felt their hands in my life. It is my hope that each person that reads this will be able to come to that same knowledge, and feel the blessings of that knowledge in their lives.

Talks for further study:
"Lord, I Believe" by Elder Holland
Come, Join with Us by President Uchtdorf