I remember sitting outside, over-anxiously waiting for my mission call. I prayed, "Heavenly Father, if it doesn't come today, please tell me now, just cut me loose before I break.. "
"If the mailman comes soon, it will be here" was my answer
"My soon, or thy soon?" I asked.
"Your soon." God responded. About 60 seconds later the mailman came around the corner. (Haha) I got my mission call. It arrived after weeks of kinks and opposition, when I was past craving, and inwardly writhing in agony.
Which leads into a poetic flashback to my running of the Teton Dam Marathon:
...At mile 20, there were 6.2 more miles to go. 6.2 more miles- no arch, no people, no hope. Visualization failed. My heart was sore in ache. My legs were led, faith on the down, and emotions quite irate. I couldn't see the end, nor believed it had begun. Was I here to run forever? Would it ever be won?"Why are we here?" another runner asked me, "Why did we even come?"
"Not my will" the Savior said to God, "but thine be done." Through him every failure was conquered, good forever prevailed, and it is through this Atonement wherein a glorious future dwells.
The last two miles totally killed, but the finish line was there- for real! The people- the arch- I did it- because I stayed! The joy I felt, I still cannot describe to you this day.. It's out here in the mission, in so many many ways. A great deal of love grows from excrutiating pain.
When things seem the worst, we must not quit, for without patience we cannot please God. *Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend...And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. Mosiah 4:9,12* What a promise!! The Savior will always be there. Actively endure, press forward, and know that if you don't have enough- Jesus Christ does. : ) Only through him can EVERY trial in your life- emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, physical- be taken care of. I have experienced and experience it. I know it.
Anyone can march into Hell and die, but Hell cannot contain you with the Savior by your side. And as he lifts you out, you'll look back and you'll say "I cannot see the pain anymore.. I only see incredible strength gained."
