Walk On The Water Too #2

My word/phrase for the year is Walk On The Water Too, and I had great plans at the beginning of the year to post something every month about my phrase to help me stay focused on it. So far, I’ve only posted one thing and that was back in January, so I have some catching up to do. In that post, I talked about how important it is to take time for spiritual things.

In this one, I want to focus on hardships and why they come our way. Here are the versus I’m focusing on from Matthew Chapter 14:

22) And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Here, the disciples were being obedient and doing what Jesus had told them to do. So why is it that they were faced with a terrible storm for following through on what was asked of them? Sometimes I get in the mindset that if I’m doing what I’m supposed to, then I shouldn’t have any hardships or tests or trials. That everything in my life should go smoothly. However, that’s not the way things work.

I think it’s interesting to note that these men weren’t new to sailing a boat. Some of them were fishermen for a living and were well acquainted w/ boats and how they work and what to do in a storm. These seasoned professionals were doing everything they could just to keep the boat from tipping over.

It’s not a matter of “IF” we will have trials in life, but more a matter of “WHEN”. We have no idea what form those tests of our faith will come in. Sometimes it will be something huge that seems insurmountable, but other times it is something small where we are doing our best and barely keeping our heads above water.

I found this scripture in Hebrews 12, which is so good!

11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

No one enjoys going through tests and trials when they are happening. However, when we come out on the other side of it, we are stronger and better for having been “exercised” thereby. Think about a muscle…when you work it out and it exercise it, that muscle hurts. But in the long run that muscle becomes stronger. Also, I have noticed that we are usually tested and tried right before some major blessings come our way. During the middle of this storm is when Peter got to walk on water.

So, now that I’ve waxed all spiritual and philosophical, I want to apply it to my own life. I think the biggest “storm” I’ve ever been through was deciding to get a divorce. At that time in my life, I was being obedient and going through the repentance process, attending church every week, and was on the right track. Then all of a sudden my little boat was put right into the middle of a huge and unexpected storm where my whole world was shaken. It was all I could do to get up in the morning and take care of myself and Autumn. It was by far the darkest and most despairing time of my life.

However, now that it’s been almost 4 years since I made the decision to leave and get a divorce, I am able to look back w/ a greater perspective. I feel the “peaceable fruit of righteousness.” That in no way means my life has been smooth sailing since then, but I am happier in my current situation than I would have been if I stayed, and know that I made the right decision.

I could have become very bitter and angry (and I was for a little while), but rather than let that consume me, I turned to the Lord and asked Him to turn my hurt into healing, my fears into faith, and my tears into a strengthened testimony. I have come out on the other side of the storm as a better woman & mother.

So, for anyone reading this that is struggling or wondering why they are having to endure the storms of life, here is an excellent talk given by Elder Quentin L Cook entitled, “Hope Ya Know, We Had A Hard Time.” I just have to end with two really great quotes that I’ve shared before, but were so fitting w/ this post:

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of our disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott

“Because you are so valuable some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith.” ~Elder Henry B. Eyring