Today I read in Mosiah 24 (Book of Mormon).
Leading up to these verses, Alma’s people had been living on their own in freedom when a bunch of Lamanites came upon them, surrounded their town and forced them into bondage. That stinks. So they prayed to God for help. In response, the Lamanites forbid them to pray, so they prayed silently and privately, and God heard their prayers. It might not have been the answer they wanted, but they were greatly blessed.
“13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”
Sometimes hard stuff comes our way simply because that’s the nature of mortal life. We don’t get to control all our circumstances or other people’s choices. But we can choose to respond to the hard things with trust and faith in God, and ask for help to move forward in spite of the challenges. And by move forward, I realize that may mean just surviving from one day or moment to the next. Heavenly Father will help us.
Weathering The Journey 