“I will give unto you success.”
I love a good journey through the scriptures. You know what I mean…those moments when you are studying the scriptures and you follow a footnote and it takes you to another reference, which reminds you of a quote you heard in a talk, so you read the talk and pretty soon you have learned and felt more than you ever expected. I don’t experience that every time I read, but once in a very wonderful while I do.
Recently while reading chapter 53 of Isaiah, I decided to look up every footnote. I’ve never done that before. I learned a TON! One footnote lead me to the Topical Guide under “self-sacrifice.” I read every scripture reference – all 57 of them. And I made a discovery.
Meaningful and fulfilling self-sacrifice is tied to doing the will of the Lord. When we freely and truly give of ourselves we are making that offering for the Lord. Here are just a few examples of what I found:
“Put your trust in the Lord.”
“…for my sake”
“For my name’s sake”
“come and follow me”
“Lord, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest”
“For His name”
“But first gave their own selves to the Lord”
“If the will of God be so”
“Thou hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will.”
Sometimes life can wear us down. There are times when there isn’t enough of us to go around. (Hey, that rhymes…) Life can be overwhelming. And it can feel that way even when we are giving of ourselves for all the right reasons.
Nestled in the 57 references for self-sacrifice was one verse that brought me a lot of peace. Alma 26:27.
“Now when our hearts were depressed (overwhelmed, stressedout, tired, needing a break, needing “me” time) and we were about to turn back (complain, give up, quit) behold the Lord comforted us and said, Go amongst thy brethren the Lamanites (your families, friends, YW, YM, Primary children, RS sisters, fellow employees, neighbors) and bear with patience thine afflictions (stresses, to do lists, dissapointments, frustrations) and I will give unto you success.”
Now that is a great promise. That makes the self-sacrifce seem more than worth the effort.
I guess what I’m trying to say is – Don’t give up. Ever. Everything we do is worth it. When you feel like throwing the towel in, then throw it next to the bathtub and take a bubble bath. When you feel like giving up, keep your chin up instead. It is all worth it. The Lord knows. He cares. He understands. He knows we do what we do for Him and because of that, He is going to help us.
And that’s a promise.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Holy cow. I really needed to hear this today. We have had quite the craziness this last few months and on Thanksgiving we had yet another thing happen. My daughter started having seizures. It was scary. I kept wondering why so many things keep happening and I keep asking Heavenly Father to stop sending me these trials. I think after reading this that maybe I need to give up on asking for them to stop and start asking for the strength to handle these things that have been put on my plate. Thankyou so much for posting this. It has helped me today
November 30th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
What a beautiful post and reminder of how worth it it is to not give up. Thank you for sharing what you learned, and for the encouragement…love this post!
November 30th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thanks. I will share this. Which side of the family do you get this talent from? You continue to be in my prayers. Hope all of December will be a blessing to you and all those you reach out to. Love you.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Wow! I really needed to hear that! That for sure will motivate me in what I am trying to do with my life right now. Some how you always have the right things to say just when I need it most!
November 30th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Thank you. I had to read that to my husband. We just adopted a 14 year old girl and we are trying to teach her service. Unfortunately, she has no interest in the gospel (Yet)…but it is so nice to know that we can find strength in the scriptures as we teach her.
For FHE this month we are going to random homes and offering our “on the spot” service. I really hope that it will help teach her selflessness. And that she will grow and feel the spirit through that service.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:20 am
I love those scripture study days!! I, too, appreciate your thoughts & insights. He is able when we put our hand in His to bless & magnify us in ways we cannot now behold with our natural eyes. Doc & Cov 112:10
December 1st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Thank you so much for posting your thoughts. I really needed to hear all that. Especially the scripture in Alma. I have been getting a little discouraged lately and haven’t known what to do. I am getting closer and closer to the age where I can go on a mission and have decided for sure that I am going to go. I keep questioning if I really am doing what I should be and if I will benefit anyone else by going. Not knowing if I am going to be a good missionary. But thank you for your last paragraph! Thank you for reminding me that the Lord is there for me and He cares. When I go on a mission, I am going for Him. He will help me get through
he will help me with everything and anything. Thank you for reminding me when I have forgotten.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Good stuff! I totally know what you are talking about to, about those days it’s just flowing. Love that! Kudos to you for being in Isaiah to begin with though.
I love how the Bible Dictionary says, “As one understands Isaiah better, he more fully comprehends the mission of the Savior”. That always keeps me motivated in those tough sections I just don’t understand.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Oh Hilary…you are such an inspiration to me. I have a quote journal that I keep full of all sorts of things (inspiring quotes, funny jokes, things my kids says that I never wanna forget) and I always take it to TOFW and have tons of wonderful things you have said inside. I needed to hear this as well and I am so grateful to have found your darling blog! I will be adding this insite to my book!
One other thing…My mom, gma and sisters always take a girls weekend and do TOFW and we only go to the ones you are in…do you know if you are doing any UT TOFW this year…it doesn’t say on your schedule. We only go if you are the MC haha…Thanks and Merry Christmas!!!
PS–I love your new CD more than I can say! Thank you for sharing your talents and gifts with us all!
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am
This is great. And something I need to do a better job of remembering. Thank you!
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
On the night when I’m waiting for my teenager to finish a sewing project (four and a half hours later….), helping her now and then, reading blogs in between….but would so much rather be in my brand-new clean sheets, I very much appreciate your thoughts. I know I am in the right place, and now I can act like it.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:32 am
I needed to hear this today of all days! Thank you for sharing.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Wow Hilary, you are such a talented woman! Music and blogging and a whole host of things in between, above and below. I love that I can click onto your blog and you are always hitting on just what I need to hear, just when I need to hear it. Don’t give up. I have to share this! Thanks again.
December 5th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Hey! This was so amazing to hear! I have struggled with understanding the scriptures forever! Im only nineteen, but i was born into the gospel. So i feel to some extent i should have already known ways to learn the scriptures better. The other day i picked up the book by James Ferrell (“The Holy Secret”). It is an amazing book and i immediately opened my scriptures. It gave me such good insight and i have never yearned to dive into the scriptures with such passion. These last few years of my life has been a struggle with school, the church, and especially my family. My parents struggle immensely with each other. i also feel like giving up or just “throwing the towel in”. thank you for giving insight on yet another day where i feel like doing exactly that but instead i think i will go take that bath you mentioned:)
December 5th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
thank you.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Just what I needed today! Thank you for sharing:):)
December 12th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Thank-you. Thanks for sharing. I am ready to throw the towel in on life…but after this post, maybe not today, maybe not today.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Thanks, Hilary. I needed to hear that!
January 7th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I just wanted to let you know how you touch people’s lives. This Christmas I experienced a lot of touch and go emotionally and spiritually. On Christmas Eve, as we rushed to a party, I commented to my hubby how I just wanted to hear something that could just give me a feeling of peace at Christmas. Within two seconds, your new song, the Silent Night rendition, came on the radio. I was grateful for that little help from above. There was another time I was waiting in the car with my children and that song came on. I turned it up and we all sat and listened.
So on Christmas Day, we made sure to bring the two Christmas cd’s I have with us as we traveled. (We also listened to them before church on Sundays.) Your music brings me peace (not just at Christmas) as I muddle through life’s ups and downs. I am grateful for your example of striving to be guided in what you do through scripture reading and letting Heavenly Father use you to reach someone like me.