Long Post but worth reading!

My Mother-in-law was asked to speak in church.  She asked me to look over her talk and give feedback.  I loved it and thought I would share it with the blogosphere.  After my last post, it spoke to my heart and reminded me how much our Heavenly Father loves us and he has sent us here to learn and grow.  I hope that her words will touch your heart as much as it did mine. 

Nevertheless here we are and the topic I have been asked to address is Matthew 14: 25-33, the story of Jesus walking on the water. I find it very interesting that this incident immediately follows the feeding of the 5000. The disciples personally witness one of the Savior’s truly amazing miracles and then they are instructed to get into a ship and go to the other side of the sea while the Savior went up into a mountain apart to pray. The disciples do as they are instructed but the scriptural account tell us that when in the midst of the sea the ship was tossed with waves and the wind was contrary. 25. And in the fourth watch of the night (between 3 and 6 in the morning according to Talmage) Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. The Savior’s recorded ministry was about 3 ½ years…actually quite a short time. I believe that when He began His ministry He knew how little time He had and that every moment needed to count. So each incident in the 4 Gospels is there for a reason. I also think that if the Savior could control the very elements of the earth He certainly was capable of making sure that the things He wanted us to learn would be included in the New Testament. I think that the Savior knew He would feed the 5000 and that as He prayed on the mountain He fully expected to go down to the sea and walk on the water. So the question we might ask ourselves is why this particular incident? Why walk on the water? Why let Peter attempt to do the same? What did Jesus want us to learn by reading this particular story? I also believe that the scriptures are very personal and speak to each of us the message we need to hear at any given moment. I would never be so presumptuous as to tell you what you should learn from this story. All I can do is share some of my thoughts with you and perhaps they will resonate in your heart as the Spirit speaks to you. So the disciples, caught in a tempest, see Jesus walking on the sea towards them, and (26) they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (27) But Straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (29) And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. Peter asked. Jesus did not command Him to step out of this ship. Peter wanted to do it. I wonder how often in my life I have asked for something and the Savior has said, “Come”, and willingly given me what I asked for, but then I have become afraid, like Peter, and faltered. How many blessings go unclaimed not because they are not offered, but because the wind becomes boisterous and we are afraid. And when that happens to us, when we cry out saying, Lord, save me, what is the Savior’s response? (31)And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? As a teacher I love reading the scriptures and observing how the Savior teaches us correct principles. Many years ago in a teacher training session I was taught the phrase “Model, lead, test.” The terminology in education is different today but the principle is still the same. The idea is that when you want to teach something, first you model how it is done. Then you help the student practice the principle with your help and guidance. Then the test comes…that moment when the learner performs the task independently to determine if the task has been mastered or if additional instruction is needed and what type of instruction would best lead to mastery. Jesus illustrates this pattern. Not even 24 hours prior to being in the boat in the middle of the storm, Peter saw Jesus feed 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Jesus showed Peter the power of faith. Peter was at the Savior’s side. He helped disperse food to the 5000. He gathered the leftover fragments. He watched the Savior walk on water. And then it was time for the test…the opportunity to use his faith independently. And still the Savior was there to guide him. But he was afraid and began to sink. No matter how many times we see the miracle. No matter how many times we have that wonderful, amazing spiritual experience, we still falter. And when we do, no matter why we do, Jesus will always, always reach out for us and pull us to safety. And all He says is “Why did you doubt?” The test always follows the teaching. At some point we must all stand on our own and either sink or reach the shore. (32)And when they were come into the ship the wind ceased. (33)Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God My husband and I served a mission on an Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. I have to confess that if I had made a list of all the places I would like to serve a mission, an Apache Indian Reservation would not have made the list. When we got there I found myself completely out of my comfort zone. The people do not trust easily and were difficult to get to know. Violence and drug and alcohol abuse were commonplace. At night we would hear war cries (I’m not kidding) and hear people running through the fields behind our trailer. I knew I had accepted this call…like Peter I wanted to do it…but I reached a point where it just felt too overwhelming. And I began to sink. I said to my husband, and myself, “I just can’t do it. I can’t stay here.” At this point in my life, I’d had a lot of spiritual experiences. We’d had many callings and I felt like I had a strong testimony. But I didn’t want to stay in Cibecue. One day I was in our little trailer very discouraged and sad and saying over and over in my head, “I just can’t do it.” All of a sudden I had this picture come into my mind that I was sitting next to the Savior and very tearfully telling him I wanted to walk on the water but I just couldn’t. And much to my surprise in this picture in my head the Savior said, “OK, you’re right. If it really is too hard, you don’t have to do it.” But then I imagined that he said, “But before you go, would you just tell me the hard part? “Well, that was easy. I’d been rehearsing the hard part over and over and I proceeded to share it with my Savior. I pictured myself saying, “I’m afraid out here. It’s dangerous.” And I imagined that he responded, “And you don’t think I can protect you?” Well, of course I think the Savior can protect me. But it’s so dirty here and I’m such a clean freak and there are germs and diseases. “And you don’t think I can handle the germs and diseases?” And in my mind we continued with my list until I finally ended with “I hate the washer and dryer in my trailer. My clothes don’t even get clean.” And then I thought, I wonder if this were really happening if the Savior would be too polite to laugh? And I stopped complaining and finished my mission and we were given some of the most powerful spiritual experiences of our lives and many beautiful friendships. I learned to trust the Lord. I learned to say with all my heart, “Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” The story of Jesus walking on the water teaches me peace. It teaches me that God really can do anything and the He is in fact in control of our world. And no matter how chaotic or distressing life may seem to me, all is unfolding according to His plan. George Q. Cannon in a Conference Talk on March 1, 1891 had the following to say about peace: Our God can be trusted to the very uttermost. No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, He will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character. He is an unchangeable being; the same yesterday, the same today and He will be the same through the eternal ages to come. We have found that God. We have made Him our friend, by obeying His Gospel; and He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments… The promise of peace gives no assurance against hardship, tribulation, adversity, death or war, as evidenced by Christ’s statement to his disciples: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 How do we show our trust in God? Henry B. Eyring said in October 2010 conference: You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks…And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you. And when we go and do, Isaiah 32:17 says: “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” God is ever present in our lives and cares for us in ways so subtle at times we might miss His influence if we are not looking for it. We have a son who lives in Arkansas. Five years ago we went with them to Arkansas to look for a house. They found one they liked and met with the realtor at Chick-Fil-A. While they visited with the realtor I took their 2 children to the play area. While sitting there watching them play I started talking with a couple of women also watching children. One of the ladies asked if I lived in the area and I told her we were from Utah and why we were there. Then she asked if I was a member of the church and said that they also were members. As it turned out they were in the same ward the kids would be in if they bought the house they were looking at. This was August and the kids weren’t planning to move until December. I introduced them to Shawn and his family and both women said they would watch for them to move into the ward. And they did. The first time Shawn and family went to church these two women spoke with them and welcomed them and they became friends. Last May I was in Arkansas again and my granddaughter wanted to bear her testimony and asked if I would also. I told this story and told them how concerned I had been about Shawn moving so far away and how these lovely women had truly been an answer to my prayers. We went back to Arkansas in July for our granddaughter’s baptism and one of the women came up to me and said, “I just have to tell you something. That day that we met you is the one and only time in my entire life I have ever been to Chick-Fil-A. God cares for us. He helps us through the big stuff and the little stuff. May we all ask to walk on the water and conquer our doubts when the Savior bids us “Come” . May we be of good cheer and go and do what the Lord asks of us even through those difficult times we all have.