Reflections

It is early in the morning and I have found myself unable to sleep. The trials of the past day have weighted heavy upon me as I struggle to reconcile myself to battles this life brings me a times. As I have tossed and turned in bed for hours thinking and contemplating, I have sought peace which to this point has alluded me. I pulled up the blog to just look at pictures of my beautiful family and as I looked at each of my wonderful children, that peace distilled upon me with a force I can't begin to describe.

Frustration,fear, sorrow, exhaustion and hurt have fled and in the wake of these things I am reminded that I am so blessed. I can feel the love of my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I know that tomorrow is a new day with beauty in and unto itself and that with that new day is the opportunity to write what I wish for it to be. I am reminded as I think of the promise of Elder Holland in his talk For Times of Trouble, that we are never alone. Elder Holland said:

"Elisha, with a power known only to the prophets, had counseled the king of Israel on how and where and when to defend against the warring Syrians. The king of Syria, of course, wished to rid his armies of this prophetic problem. So, and I quote:
“Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.“… [They] compassed the city both with horses and chariots.” (2 Kgs. 6:14–15.)If Elisha is looking for a good time to be depressed, this is it. His only ally is the president of the local teachers quorum. It is one prophet and one lad against the world. And the boy is petrified. He sees the enemy everywhere—difficulty and despair and problems and burdens everywhere. The bus is gone, and all he can see is Chicago. With faltering faith the boy cries, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” (2 Kgs. 6:15.)
And Elisha’s reply?“Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kgs. 6:16).“They that be with us?” Now just an Israelite minute here. Faith is fine and courage wonderful, but this is ridiculous, the boy thinks. There are no others with them. He can recognize a Syrian army when he sees one, and he knows that one child and an old man are not strong odds against it. But Elisha’s promise: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
“And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kgs. 6:16–17.)
In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed. I close with this promise from heaven. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.”“… I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, … and mine angels [shall be] round about you, to bear you up.
“… The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.” (D&C 78:17–18; D&C 84:88; D&C 78:18.)"

As the quiet promptings of the Spirit have chased darkness away, I am filled with peace and quiet.