Everything is Going to Be Okay

by Kari Diane Pike

Wanted:
 February 2013.
 If you have any idea where February 2013 disappeared to, please contact me immediately.

Seriously. I know February has fewer days than any other month, but I feel like I barely stepped out of January. Wasn't Christmas just a couple of weeks ago? I thought I dreamed upValentine's Day and here I am a week into March.

Our son gets married in 16 days. Three days later, I have a huge work conference to attend -- for three days! Three weeks after that is an open house for said son and his new bride. The next week I get to be an honorary family member for a friend who is getting married to the love of her life. (She is from Pakistan and England and has no family here.) Two weeks after that, our youngest daughter graduates from high school and leaves for Brigham Young University. Then it's summer break and family reunions and trips to Utah and the ANWA Arizona retreat (which I really, really want to attend) and then school starts again. I don't even want to think about how the holidays nip at the heals of school beginning.  Aack!

I've been pondering on how different life is this year than during our adventurous 2012. I think the biggest difference is in my personal growth. I came to that conclusion after watching Sunday night's CES broadcast (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosts a broadcast from their church education system for young and single adults every few months). You see, a couple of weeks ago, my EBF (eternal best friend, aka, dear hubby)and I were asked to be the speakers during Sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday. While I am grateful for an opportunity to share my testimony of the Atonement, I also feel a great deal of responsibility. There are people who attend church on Easter Sunday who don't normally attend at any other time. What can I say that will help them feel the love the Savior has for them...for all of us? I was praying about my concerns when I heard about Elder and Sister Bednar's talks

• A testimony of the Atonement directs us, empowers us, and helps us to hold on when we do not understand God's will for us.
• "Not shrinking is more important than surviving." (Neal A. Maxwell)
• We can learn to "partake of the bitter cup" without becoming bitter -- everything we endure builds our character and helps us overcome the natural man as we learn to submissively accept His will and timing and submit to all things.
• The Master cares. He calms the the waters. Do we believe Him?

A view from our tent trailer in Alpine, Utah - July 2012. We were just a little over 2 miles from the source of this fire. Fortunately, the winds calmed and shifted direction. We even received much needed rain that very night. Heavenly Father does hear and answer our prayers.

 I will never forget the terror that gripped me last summer when the winds whipped out of the canyons of northern Utah and threatened to overturn the tent trailer in which we were living. Huddled next to my EBF, buried under blankets to stay warm and block out the noise of falling tree branches and flying debris, all I could do was pray. A hymn came to mind and as I sang its sweet message, I felt myself encircled in the arms of the Savior's love.

" I will not doubt, I will not fear;

 God's love and strength are always near.

 His promised gift helps me to find 

An inner strength and peace of mind.

I give the Father willingly

 My trust, my prayers, humility. 

His Spirit guides; his love assures that fear departs when faith endures."

"When Faith Endures", Hymns, #128

Not until I heard Elder Bednar's talk did I truly understand why and how that peace and comfort came to me. I knew, deep down that no matter what the outcome, everything would be okay -- because Jesus Christ does love us. He lived,  He suffered, He died, and He lived again, so that we don't have to perish.

I learned that I believe in the Savior, and I believe Him. No matter how things happen, everything is going to be okay.

Now go listen to Elder and Sister Bednar. Your heart will never be the same. I promise.

hugs~