Hope Amidst Wo.

First off, Jacob and I are going to a Ben Rector concert this weekend, and he has a song that goes like this: 

I got a mind full of questions and they just won't let me be
I am weary from the restless heart inside of me
I never care about believing till I see I lost my way 

And then my troubles all around me and all that I can say,
See me through another day cause the devil's calling
I need a place to hide away, from the storm
When the water's rising, when the sun don't shine
(Ben Rector, "Hide Away")

I've thought a lot about shafts in the whirlwind lately. What I mean is, I've thought about the reality that there is an enemy who fights against all that is good in the world. In my religion, this powerful dark and evil force has a name. He is called Satan. He's fighting hard. 

I've been scared, before. Like, really scared. Afraid nothing good will ever happen again. So afraid, it's hard to breathe, and all I can do is pray. And the prayer comes out in these embarrassing gulps of air with snot bubbles everywhere and uncontrollable sobs. Yeah, that's happened to me, before. And I bet I'm not the only one out there. 

"And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before Him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high, and angels came down and ministered unto me." (2 Nephi 4:24, Book of Mormon)

I have felt this power. I have felt the powers of Heaven come down-- not in any bold way, no fanfare or fire. just peace, like clean ocean breezes and stagnant sun melting you on a March day when the weeks have been wintery and only now do the skies show blue. That's what it feels like to be touched by angels. I testify of the truth. That we are not alone. No matter what we struggle with, or what we are forced to watch our loved ones endure-- 

He's felt that struggle too. The fight continues, my friends 
and we must remember:

"Those that be with us are more than those that be with them." (2 Kings 6:1-6, Old Testament in Bible). 

Nobody struggles alone. That darkness you feel? Sure, it's real. It's powerful. But God is more powerful. He has angels fending off the blows for you, all day. Every. Single. Day. 

"And now, my sons [and daughters, sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers], remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo [grief], because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12, Book of Mormon)

Picture References:

"Sleep," by Brian Kershisnik.

"She Will Find What is Lost," by Brian Kershisnik. 

 "The Agony in Gethsemane," by Franz Shwartz.