Rescuer

Our little girl has been hospitalized—for the second time—for now over a month, and it has been one of the most agonizing experiences of my life. But there have also been miracles, oh so many miracles from people fasting and praying for her.

Christ is the God of miracles and He does not leave us comfortless. (Mormon 9:7-11, John 14:18) That can be hard to remember sometimes, hard to see sometimes, in the midst of the pain. I don’t understand why He lets terrible things happen, because I KNOW He has power to fix it. I think sometimes that makes it hurt more, makes me feel abandoned. But then He sends reminders that He is there, that He cares, that He understands. 

This Earth, where these terrible things happen, is not our home. We came from heaven, and our Brother and Father want us to return there someday. They prepared the way and allowed us to come here, of our own choice, so that we could experience everything that mortality means, both the good and the bad. And sometimes They stay Their hand and allow Satan, at least for now, beat upon us with his storms. All so that we can learn, so we can grow, and so that we can rise triumph.

It must pain our Heavenly Father and Savior to not swoop down and heal our sorrows. Because one day, that’s exactly what They intended to do. Christ suffered and died of all so that one day He can wipe away every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 21:4). He is our Savior after all, the One who saves us from this world. He is our Rescuer.

But in the meantime, for reasons we don’t always understand, in His wisdom He allow the suffering to continue just a little bit longer. He doesn’t cause the suffering—that blame falls upon Satan and sometimes just the natural conditions of mortality. But He does wait, and watch, and lend comfort and encouragement to help us through it.

I don’t know when this trial, this suffering, will end. I want nothing more than to bring our baby girl home and to see her happy and healthy. I pray for it all day, every day. Sometimes, it’s all too easy to be angry at God for allowing this to happen. But I try to trust. I try to have faith. And when I do, the burden is lighter and my eyes are opened to the miracle happening around me. 

Jesus Christ loves us. For now, I’m hanging on to the promise from Joseph B Worthlin, that “the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss,” that we will be reunited with our baby girl again, hopefully even soon that we think, and that Christ will make all this lost time seem inconsequential for the abundance of blessings that He will pour out on our family.

(Image: The Hand of God by Yongsung Kim)

Thoughts about Jesus Christ—our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

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Questions To Ponder On

Why does God allow suffering, especially when He has the power to stop it?

I don’t fully understand why He lets terrible things happen, but I trust that He can make good things rise out of the bad. We came to Earth so that we could experience everything that mortality means, both the good and the bad. God doesn’t cause the suffering—that blame falls upon Satan and sometimes just the natural conditions of mortality. But God does send reminders that He is there, that He cares, that He understands.

How can I trust God when I feel abandoned in my pain?

Sometimes, it’s all too easy to be angry at God for allowing this to happen. But I try to trust. I try to have faith. And when I do, the burden is lighter and my eyes are opened to the miracle happening around me.

Where is Christ during times of deep sorrow and pain?

Christ is the God of miracles, and He does not leave us comfortless. He sends reminders that He is there, that He cares, that He understands. He waits, and watches, and lends comfort and encouragement to help us through it.

What is the purpose of trials and suffering in this life?

This Earth, where these terrible things happen, is not our home. We came here so that we could experience everything that mortality means, both the good and the bad. And sometimes God stays His hand and allows Satan, at least for now, to beat upon us with his storms. All of this is so that we can learn, so we can grow, and so that we can rise triumph with Jesus.

Will the pain and loss I feel now ever be healed?

One day, that’s exactly what Jesus intends to do. Jesus Christ suffered and died so that one day He can wipe away every tear from our eyes. I’m hanging on to the promise that “the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss,” and that Jesus will make all this lost time seem inconsequential for the abundance of blessings that He will pour out on our family.