Find the Silver Lining

Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise from the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache, you think it’s more than you can take

But you’re stronger, stronger than you know

Don’t you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

Gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining.

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end, even when the sky is falling

I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become new

That’s what faith can do

Doesn’t matter what you’ve heard

Impossible is not a word, just a reason for someone not to try

Everybody scared to death

They decide to take that step out on the water, but it’ll be alright

Life is so much more

Than what your eyes are seeing

You will find your way, if you keep believing

How are these marvelous events brought to pass? I feel that I can hope till the sky does fall, but without an additional measure will hope ever bring about anything as remarkable as a miracle or bring the answer to a silent prayer? What is it that separates hope from this earth moving faith?

Recently I was discussing with a friend principles that can be learned through several scripture stories, but three in particular. In Matthew 14 the Lord commands His 12 disciples to feed the multitude that had gathered to listen to the Master speak. They protested saying that there was no way they had the means to feed so many with what little they had. At this the Lord instructs them to bring what they have to Him.

The brother of Jared finds himself in need of a solution and is prompted by the Lord to seek out an answer on his own. With much pondering and preparation the brother of Jared comes before the Lord with twelve stones he has prepared. As he addresses his maker he explains that he knows his abilities are limited but that with the added power of the Lord that which may seem to be impossible can be made to happen.

Thirdly, in Alma 57 the remarkable story of two thousand young men is recounted. We listen admiringly as the tale is told of these untrained ‘soldiers’, as they went forth with faith in the covenants they had made with their Lord, ready to give all they had to the protection of their people and their loyalty to their Savior. They had that never ending hope when their world really was falling down. They did not however simply hope for a better world or for their burdens to be lightened. Through their actions they were able to turn their hope into a faith that truly worked miracles.

The key, the thing that made all the difference in each of these remarkable stories is the action taken. Once we hope in the Savior, believe on Him the next step is to act. But in such situations it can be very easy to find ourselves wanting to act but not knowing what we should do. Each of the previously highlighted stories gives us additional insight into this very question. When what we have is not enough, when we do not have the answer, and when it appears our little effort wouldn’t make a whole lot of difference what are we to do. In each of these instances, and in each of ours the power comes when we bring what we have unto Him, to our Lord and Savior, the Master of all, and our promised companion.

As the apostles brought their meager offering to the Savior He blessed it and then bade them take it to the people. With those simple rations they fed five thousand hungry souls. The brother of Jared’s simple stones, when brought to the Lord and touched by His hands were made to glow, and to give light all throughout their journey. Two thousand young men of faith went to their Maker, covenanted with Him that they would give their lives to uphold the freedoms of the gospel and they were made more mighty than the numerous Lamanites they came against in battle. In each case these faithful servants of the Lord have taken all they had to offer to the Lord, asked Him to bless it, and then went forward in faith knowing that He would make up the difference and provide the way for them to do what He had commanded.

In each of our lives we are sure to come across moments, possibly many, where we feel as one of these individuals felt. We may feel that we are being asked to do something impossible, that we do not have nearly enough time, talents, resources, or even desire to see it through and accomplish such an overwhelming task. We may feel that there is no solution within our grasps to the most pressing questions of our lives, where the plans and the instruction seems to end and we are required to develop the perfect solution. We may feel that we are too young, too small, or too inexperienced to make a difference in the war that is raging around or within us.

I promise in each of these instances in personal life that as we will follow the examples of each of these servants of the Lord, take all we have and all we are to our Lord and Savior and ask Him to bless it that we may accomplish His work He will do so. I have seen examples of each of these quandaries and concerns at one time or another in my life. I can now look back and recognize when I allowed myself to sink in despair at the weight of my burdens. I remember the pain and the sorrow and the loneliness that came in those moments. But I can also remember the light and the peace that came when I brought those cares, those weights to the Lord. Taking all I had, all I knew, and all that I was to Him and pleading before Him that He would please lift me and make up the difference that I did not yet have—then the peace came. Then I was able to feel the power of the Lord work within me to multiply my strength and my abilities, to bring forth a light within me bringing light back into my soul for the journey I had yet to make.

These moments, as we recognize them, are remarkable and faith promoting. But they are not all encompassing, nor are they easy. We cannot have one such experience and be set. It takes a continual going to the Lord asking Him to lift us a little at a time, that we may become more than we were each step of the way. Let us not forget, the two thousand did not stand strong because of their own power. The Brother of Jared’s preparation and ingenuity did not make the stones shine. The 12 Disciples did not feed the multitude. Nor do we cause the miracles great or small to occur within our lives.

We, as these men did, must do all we can do. We must hope in our Lord and Savior believing in Him and we must take all that we have and all that we are to He who has the power to save and plead with Him to make up the difference. Then we will be mighty as He is, because He will be with us.

The process of coming unto the Lord is often a great struggle. We are step by step climbing a mountain and that is hard work. It takes effort, energy, and perseverance. It may seem at times that we cannot continue or that if we do take one more step it will be our last. It is in those moments of complete exhaustion that we must hope and trust in the promise given by Isaiah. Even more than that we must apply forth our action, continue to climb and then as one who has waited upon the Lord we “shall renew [our] strength; [we] shall mount up with wings as eagles; [we] shall run, and not be weary; and [we] shall walk, and not faint.”