No Blessing Denied

21 October 2017

It’s been one of those weeks, for me, where you almost feel like you're meeting yourself coming and going. It’s nice to have the weekend – to rest up, to grocery shop, to run errands, and to find renewal at our Sunday meetings.

On another note, I'm grateful for the hope and joy that we can each have as we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although we all struggle with a variety of issues in this life, it is a blessing to know that there is the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) available to each of us.

This week, as part of our monthly mission conference, there was some discussion about the hope that faithful, righteous members of the Church can have, even if their life circumstances are less than what they want them to be. This included discussion of those who are single or childless despite their best efforts, and the desires of their heart, as well as those whose spouses make choices that cause them and others great pain. 

One couple in our zone served a previous mission among the Navajo in New Mexico. They said, “On our last mission, on the Navajo Reservation, so many of the sisters had lost hope of “eternal families” and many of their daughters did not marry after watching the discouraging marriages of their mothers. Most branches of the church that we worked with had 2-4 active men, and 30-40 active women.” (Of course, it's not only women who experience these things, some men do as well. And, there are other circumstances besides these that cause pain and heartache.)

There are several quotes from Church leaders that say, in essence, “No blessing will be denied those who are faithful and righteous.”  However, it’s often difficult to understand when and how it will all work out when faced with so much disappointment. Here are some of the quotes that were shared (I especially like the one by Boyd K. Packer):
We all face difficulties and challenges in this life – some, seemingly, more than others. Perhaps that is why the Lord has instructed us to “... be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  (Ephesians 4:32) 

We all need that.