Generally, I don’t move very fast. My “mile time” in junior high was in the 12 minute range…Awesome. I know. I have since shaved off a couple of minutes (no really...). BUT. When I recently read how swift (spiritually) Alma was…I decided to try to move a whole lot faster... Alma stood and labored (this isn’t the swift part 😉) with “much spirit”, as he taught a great multitude about their Savior and eternal salvation. He taught about baptism and exhorted them to repent of their stiff-necked ways. As the adversary was working in those people to reject Alma’s words, Alma was working harder as he “wrestled with God in mighty prayer that He would pour out his Spirit” upon the people in the city. Despite the fervent prayers and pleading from Alma, the people’s hearts were too hard to feel the spirit working in them. They proclaimed their doubt in the “foolish traditions” he spoke of...prayer, fasting, repentance, covenant keeping, scripture study…all foolish they thought. The people reviled Alma and spit upon him. Upon a Prophet who genuinely loved and cared for their welfare and happiness. The multitude rebelled against him so much that they caused Alma to leave the city. As Alma left and journeyed to the next city, he described himself as being weighed down with sorry and tribulation. His soul anguished because of the wickedness of this people. As I read these feelings Alma expressed, I felt like in the smallest of ways, I could relate. Alma was heartbroken and rejected. BUT. Alma did not journey alone. The Lord was there. He comforted and encouraged him. And the Lord sent an angel to him, saying: “Blessed art though, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him.” Heavens! Can you almost taste the peace and love Alma must of felt? Hearing how pleased God was with him? How God knew of his faithfulness and his strong desire to see God’s will unfold? I am sure Alma never wanted that angel to leave his side…but really…do you think he ever did? Then the angel spoke further… “I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah and preach again unto the people of the city; yea preach unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them.” Ok. At this point I am thinking, did the angel know what happened when Alma tried to teach? Didn’t he know that Alma was spit upon, reviled, and rebelled against? Didn’t he know how hard the hearts were of these people? And of course, Ashley being who Ashley (slow, and often times, a dweller…) vs. Alma, being the AMAZING Alma, does THIS when hearing the call… “Now it came to pass after Alma had received this message from the angel of the Lord he RETURNED SPEEDILY to the land…” SPEEDILY?! No question to why? No dwelling in the past? No pleading the case of why it might not be a good idea? No. He didn't. So wonderfully, Alma looked ahead and went back and tried again. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled, whether by mind own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” The Lord prepared the way for Alma. He prepared a home, food, shelter, and a man, Amulek, to assist him in fulfilling his call from God.
Can’t we all relate to Alma and his experience? Have we ever worked so hard to do the right thing and only in return be rejected or discouraged by people around us? While, we probably aren’t standing in front of multitudes trying to baptize and convert. Maybe for us, its how we are trying our very best to teach our children and raise them to gain their own testimony of the gospel and of God. And, in response, they push back and away. Maybe it’s in the place we work. How we try to be disciples of Him and stand for truth, but are questioned over and over. Or maybe it’s in our callings or the way we are seeking an answer to a prayer, or even discouragement within ourselves. I really believe that Satan uses discouragement to destruct faith. Now. Don’t get me wrong. We all feel discouragement. And that’s okay. BUT. Its how far we let that emotion carry us is the key. Just this last Saturday I heard Sheri Dew speak. Of all the wonderful things she said, this thought hasn’t left my mind… “Don’t doubt the Lord in troubling times, but look at that experience and see what there is to learn.” Alma did that with his discouragement. He went to the Lord in prayer to see what he should do. What was the Lord’s response? Not one of, your not trying hard enough and why didn’t you do this and this and this… The Lords answer was one of love and acknowledgement of how far Alma has come, AND what the Lord will help him do going forward. Trials and hard times in our lives shouldn't change the true foundations of our testimony. They don’t change who God the Father is. It doesn’t change that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, nor the truth found in the scriptures. What trials and questions do do, is give us the opportunity to grow stronger in our foundations. So…what did I "run away (ha!)" with from Alma’s experience? Communication with God each and every day is vital. Plead with him when you are sad or discouraged, and weighed down. He's there. He will let you know how much He loves, how far you’ve actually come, and the next step to helping you move forward. And when he does…go. swiftly.
2 Comments
Dad...
2/2/2016 12:34:31 pm
Thanks for teaching me .... Your insights come to me as if your are an angel sent to share a message from Heavenly Father at the perfect time just for me.
Reply
Ashley
2/2/2016 01:34:47 pm
Love you Dad! Thank you ♡
Reply
Leave a Reply. |