Most of the time I love my life and feel very blessed. But there are times when I'm hurting, or someone I love is hurting, and heartfelt prayers seem to be unanswered. I realize that prayers are not always answered in the way we desire, and sometimes that can make us feel frustrated or even alone. So the question arises, "How can I keep my heart open to feeling the love of the Lord even when I do not understand? How can I access the comfort we are promised because of the atonement?
Sometimes we might not feel comfort because we are looking to have our physical suffering taken away. When that doesn't happen, we feel that the Lord is not there. Then I think of Jesus suffering on the cross carrying the weight of the sins of the world. As excruciating as it was for Him to bear this suffering, the only time He cried out was when He briefly lost the companionship of His Father. He said,
"My God, my God! Why hast thou forsaken me?" For the first time in His life, He experienced what it was like to lose the Spirit of God. Likewise, when we lose the Spirit, either because of unrepented sin or lack of faith, or even anger toward God because we don't understand why we have to endure this trial, our suffering becomes unbearable. We shut ourselves off from the comfort the Lord stands ready and willing to give if we will just open our hearts to it. The Lord may not remove the trial, because that would not be in our best interest. But He will make it bearable and comfort us and give us the needed strength to endure it well.
And just as I know that Jesus Christ volunteered to be our Savior, I know that I agreed to the mission I came to earth to fulfill. It is not in the nature of God to compell me to do something I did not agree to. So the next time I feel like my prayer is not being answered because a trial is not being removed, I hope that I will realize that the Lord may only be honoring something I previously agreed to and wanted to experience so that I could become more like Him.
Jesus Christ suffered for my sins and my sicknesses, both physical and spiritual. He understands exactly what I am going through and will give me comfort and peace like no one else can. He is not indifferent to my suffering. I am sure He weeps when I weep. And when I am joyful, His joy is full. I am grateful for this mortal experience. I will not blame God for all the pain and suffering that mortal life entails, for it is an unavoidable part of the plan I agreed to. I am grateful that our Father was willing to provide a way for us to become like Him. To have the joy that He ejoys. What an unbelievable blessing!
