Cool Experience

Today was like any other Sunday; sitting in Sacrament Meeting, just finishing the sacrament hymn and now awaiting the Sacrament. I like to use the time during the Sacrament to ponder and think about my life in connection to the Savior, what was good and bad about this week, and what I can improve on.

As I did some internal reflection, I felt so weighed down by the many things I feel like I'm facing right now. I closed my eyes, said a prayer, and had a thought or two come to mind.

I pictured myself holding all of these challenges in my hands, trying to balance them and struggling with the weight of it all. As I talked with the Savior, telling Him all that I had to go through, I handed Him these challenges one by one. He presented a backpack and put all of these challenges inside of it, and then gave it back to me. As I put on the backpack, I stood up straighter and felt stronger about the road ahead.

What stuck out to me is that these challenges weren't taken away from me, but because of the Savior, I was made stronger and more able to carry these challenges.

When I realized this, it immediately brought me such peace. This moment helped me to know that a purpose of the Atonement is to strengthen me in my times of trouble, and to lift me up when I need help. Jesus Christ really is there, willing to help, and willing to strengthen us because he paid for our sins.

In one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon, it says;

"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.  

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Mosiah 24:13-15, emphasis added)

Because Heavenly Father loves us so much and because He wants us to succeed in this test of life, He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to perform the Atonement so that we can ultimately return to Him again. I know that because of what Jesus Christ did for all of us, I can be strengthened as I try to do my best in this life.

I'm so grateful for the gospel and that I can be strengthened through the Atonement. I couldn't get through my life without the gospel- that's a fact. Don't ever forget that you never have to face anything alone.

Keep running.