We hear it all the time in our culture "She's just lashing
out because of ___ trial" or "He will help you later after he works
___ out" "I will help you when I pull myself together, I’m having a
really rough time." Emotions tend to justify unwillingness to serve at
times, and the truth is I’ve never really seen any problem with it whatsoever. We are all human, and
we all need solitude and our own time to work things out. But, as I read Matthew 14 the thought came to me that although we might be
experiencing "rough waters" is that an excuse to not pull someone up
into a boat that is drowning? Some might say, that isn't a realistic example as
refusing to help someone with small matters as we are experiencing severe
emotional trials, because most of the time it isn't life or death options like the rough waters. But
is there a limit, or are there certain boundaries, that Christ-like love only
fits into?
Let's explore Matthew 14 for a brief
moment. In this chapter we have 2 major miracles: The feeding of the 5,000 and
Peter walking on water. Although these are remarkable and great points to focus
on, (as pointed out in my New Testament class) we tend to skip over the first
part of the chapter.
John the Baptist is beheaded. Now first,
you have to remember that John was sent to be the "forerunner" to
Jesus. In other words, he would do certain things before Jesus and prepare his
way (like birth, baptism, disciples, and death). Now let's think about this for
a moment. Jesus does not only have a very close relationship with John because
of their divine roles, they are also related. So in one sentence Jesus, in
essence in v. 13, is told that a very close person to him has been killed but
because John is his forerunner, Jesus's death is nigh at hand. Can you imagine
if someone came to you and said, "Someone you love has been murdered, and
you will be next very soon". The weight and magnitude of the situation
would be highly unbearable.
If we look at Jesus's human side for a
moment, we can explain his reaction in v. 13 as He tries to be alone and went
on a ship to go pray to His father at his destination. In v. 13 and 14 we see
that as soon as a multitude saw Jesus leaving, they followed him and waited for
His ship to arrive. Now think for a moment, as my teacher put it, if you were
Jesus wouldn't you be strongly tempted to tell the people Look I’m having a really hard time
right now, but I will come back when I feel better and help you! Yes, of course that would be
tempting. Instead, Jesus heals all of them. And then He feeds all of them. He
spends the entire day with these people right after his emotional trauma
occurred, and never complained once. After the people departed, Jesus
told His disciples to get on a ship without Him so He could go pray to His
Father in the mountain. Jesus finally had his moment of desperate
solitude.
As I tell you this story and give a little
more of a human perspective on it, I don't want you to think I am implying that
it is not okay to mourn during a traumatic experience, because it is okay.
Jesus did, and He turned to Heavenly Father for comfort and help. But, in the
meantime Jesus also helped those in need and that surely did bring more joy
into His life. I tell you this story because as we go through terrible things
throughout our lives, we might be very tempted to wallow up and stop moving
forward. I'm telling you today that you don't have to stop, rely on Jesus to carry you during these times that you feel too weak, and as you
strive to lift others as well your strength will increase. I will conclude with
a quote from Elder Cook's Talk, "Hope Ya Know, I Had A Hard
Time"
"I testify that the Atonement of
Jesus Christ covers all of the trials and hardships that any of us will
encounter in this life. At times when we may feel to say, "Hope you know,
I had a hard time," we can be assured that He is there and we are safe in
His loving arms...When our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, was
asked on his birthday this past August what would be the ideal gift that
members worldwide could give him, he said without a moment's hesitation, "find
someone who is having a hard time...and do something for them""
It is okay to mourn and to cry and to
weep! We are human! But while we are going on this crazy journey we call life,
with many trials, let us remember that my strengthening our brethren we will
too be strengthened even more. I have heard it coined, "Service is the
fastest working medicine... even faster than Advil!"
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