I woke up with words from this song going through my head,
not the words from beginning to end, but key phrases that were an important
message for me today. I love how the Lord does that for us. So, of course, I
googled a phrase, and the song magically appeared.
The Time is Far Spent
The time is far spent; there is little remaining
To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.
Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming:
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven’s at hand,
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven’s at hand.
Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant,
But follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.
Our little afflictions, tho painful at present,
Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end,
Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end.
What, tho, if the favor of Ahman possessing,
This world’s bitter hate you are called to endure?
The angels are waiting to crown you with blessings!
Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.
Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.
Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will
try you;
The weight of your calling he perfectly knows.
Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh you;
His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.
His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.
(Eliza R. Snow)
All of us are dealing with trials. All of us. None of them
feel like little afflictions. I’m sure Eliza R. Snow, of all people, new that.
But then there’s the perspective of the song. We were made to endure the glory
also, not just the afflictions. And even in our present trials, God will allow
us to feel some of that now. We experience the bitter, and at the same time, we
cherish the sweet so much more.
And the Lord has promised us that we do not have to serve him alone; we do not have to combat the hatred or mocking or even the misunderstandings of others alone; we do not have to face the demons of this world, or even our own personal demons alone. It matters little that Satan knows the weight of our callings when we remember that Jesus knows us better and he loves us perfectly and knows how to succor and sustain us fully and proportionately to what is necessary for our needs and growth at the time we need added sustenance. His perfect Light will expel all darkness, even if currently only feel a respite.
And the Lord has promised us that we do not have to serve him alone; we do not have to combat the hatred or mocking or even the misunderstandings of others alone; we do not have to face the demons of this world, or even our own personal demons alone. It matters little that Satan knows the weight of our callings when we remember that Jesus knows us better and he loves us perfectly and knows how to succor and sustain us fully and proportionately to what is necessary for our needs and growth at the time we need added sustenance. His perfect Light will expel all darkness, even if currently only feel a respite.
This I believe and know. Jesus lived for me, He suffered for
me, He died for me, and He lives for me again. Because of what He has done for
me, because of what He has done for you, He knows us intimately, our weaknesses
and our strengths; and, it is His good pleasure to be our Friend and Companion
as we remember Him and cry unto Him to be our support; and turn unto Him in our
sorrows and our fears, and our joys and successes.
When we feel like we have been tried beyond our mortal capacity, we
need to remember that if we are in partnership with Him, nothing is impossible.
He has said, "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and
on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round
about you, to bear you up (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)." So when you need
to be carried, bury yourself in His bosom, and He will carry you and heal you in His own way and time,
and allow you slowly to become like Him.
