Some random musings for a rainy/snowy Friday:
Have you ever had someone say something that just made a lot
of sense and seems like something you’ve known forever but just never really
thought about that way? I’ve had two of those this past week that are kind of
connected and it got me thinking so I figured I would write it out before I
forget and share with hopes that maybe it would help someone else too.
The first thing I heard someone say was that we shouldn’t
wait until we’re perfect to come to Christ but that we come to Christ as we are
and He helps perfect us. I think I’ve done a lot of this – thinking that I have
to figure something out or be good enough before I can have His blessings. It’s
just not true. He loves us as we are right now. Yes, sins will keep us from being
able to receive certain blessings but we overcome those sins as we bring them
to Him – not on our own. That’s what the Atonement is all about.
The second thought that I heard was just a mental image of
our relationship to God that I thought illustrated the first thought
beautifully. We’ve all either been or known little children who wake up in the
middle of the night and need their parents. Sometimes it’s for a bad dream,
sometimes it’s just because, but those little children don’t hesitate to call out
or seek out their source of comfort and safety – that place where love makes it
all ok again. They don’t worry about if they’ve been good or kind enough that
day or if it’ll bother their parents. They just react on an instinctual need to
feel that love and comfort. Christ calls us His children. He and Heavenly
Father love us more than we can understand, even more than the sublime love of
parents who after all is said and done are only human and have to deal with
things like sleep deprivation! We shouldn’t hesitate to turn to them when we
need that love and comfort or encouragement – they’re going to be there for us
with open arms to provide whatever safety and refuge and renewal we need no
matter what else may have happened that day. It doesn’t mean that it won’t take
time or effort to calm ourselves and find that solace we seek but we don’t give
up seeking it.
3 Nephi 9:14 “Yea,
verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life.
Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him
will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.”
Mark 3:23 (JST) “And blasphemies,
wherewith soever they shall blaspheme, shall be
forgiven them that come unto me, and do the works which they see me do.”
Moroni 7:34 “And
he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized
in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.”
Ether 4:14 “Come
unto me, O ye house
of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you
how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the
world; and it hath not come unto
you, because of unbelief.”
Mark 1:17 “And Jesus said unto them,
Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”
God continually is calling us to Him.
He knows that we will only find the comfort and peace and love and
encouragement we need to grow and improve and overcome our sins as we are
humble enough to answer the call and allow His Spirit to work within us.
