So, what exactly does that mean? Christ died for us. He has felt my suffering and pain. He atoned for it.He has promised us “I will … ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that … you cannot feel them … ; and this will I do … that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”
While this is a comforting thought I ask what does it mean exactly to allow the atonement to work for me? Is it faith?
I am praying. I have begun to read the scriptures. I have decided to try to live a life that is more in harmony with his teachings. I recognize I need to turn to him always, just not in times of trials. However these trials have focused me on these shortcomings. I need peace, and Christ can bring that for me. Through the power of the atonement He can heal me. I feel stupid asking but, how? What exactly am I supposed to be doing? Catholics, Christians, Protestants, we all believe in the same thing that Christ atoned for our sins and we can be healed through it. So if everyone gets it, why don't I?
I feel really, really stupid asking this, however I know many family members and friends have strong testimonies of this so I needed to ask what your thoughts are on this!
11 comments:
I think that Christ gives us the "lessons" that we need to learn. Sometime we are not able to see what he sees, but through it, ask yourself, "what am I suppose to learn from this?". Maybe you need to go go through what is ahead of you, in order to grow and be able to say, "I have been through that....let me teach you what I have learned". Religion works in mysterious ways and regardless of the exact religion, we all are human and we all have trials and tribulations. Stay strong.
You know, that's a very difficult one to wrangle - on one hand, we have faith and resting in the work He does in us... on the other hand, we also have been given a brain, and we have been provided with doctors... going to one doesn't mean an absence of the other... that said,
I believe our attitude can help or hurt our situation, potentially... I enjoy finding humor and laughing helps me personally... I feel better after a good dose of crack-me-up...
for example, there is a youtube video called "oops, I pooped my pants", which is a takeoff on DEPENDS commercials... that might not do it for some, but it helps me, believe it or not... now, also it depends on what you have...
whoever said laughter was the best medicine never had ghonorrhea... or prolonged pain, cancer or anything really rough.
I think it comes down to praying, letting the results be His to own, and then following the leading you have in your heart as to what else to do...
My wife has been very ill for most of 6 years now, and we continue to follow the leading hand of the Lord that guides us... she is now finally seeing some improvement, but it's difficult to remain positive all the time...
We are just learning to celebrate the "good" days... and to most, they wouldn't even be that good, but when you have been so sick or in so much pain, or have mutiple seizures each day, or whatever, it changes your point of view a bit...
Simply put - to stand on a promise you heard directly from God is faith. To presume anything without it coming from Him to you is presumption and in my experience may not pan out like you want it to. Personally, I have to get quiet and listen and ask questions... (many times I don't ask the right question intially, so there isn't a clear answer)... and I don't move on it or make any major decisions until I have that direction...
My brain goes (and so do family, friends, etc. sometimes) "What are you going to do? What are you going to do?" like some broken record... and I have to get calm, and still and just wait and listen. Sometimes the answer also comes through others, or a memory, or something I see or hear, and the conviction or confirmation is there telling me that was the answer...
Wish I could give you a formula, but then I think the reason we don't have one is that He wants relationship with each of us as individuals... and not having the answers and formulas often brings us to Him... just as we say to our kids, "come here, and I will give you what you need"...
with compassion, blessing and light -
J/
one last thing - you cannot fail... don't be afraid to be wrong, because your steps are ordered before you, and they may include some turns, even U turns, but they are all for your good and for the good of those around you....
J/
First off, you have to believe that he can and will help ease your burdens. It takes prayer and time. I like what Goteeman said, good advice.
"Be still and know that I am God."
Good luck. Patience. Slow and steady wins the race, or gets us the answers we seek.
I often asked myself that same question. I read a conference talk on my mission that made a lot of sense to me. It totally explained to me how this is possible. It is from Bishop Merrill J. Bateman, April '95 conference.
"The Savior’s Atonement in the garden and on the cross is intimate as well as infinite—infinite in that it spans the eternities, intimate in that the Savior felt each person’s pains, sufferings, and sicknesses. Consequently, He knows how to carry our sorrows and relieve our burdens that we might be healed from within, be made whole persons, and receive everlasting joy in His kingdom."
For me, this was like a light coming on. He knows. He knows how I am feeling because he has felt EXACTLY what I am feeling. He knows me and He knows what I am going through. It is like talking to you about being sick when pregnant and talking to someone who "loves" pregnancy. I hate those women. ;-) You have been there before and you really know what I am going through. So does the Savior. Praying helps me a lot. I feel like I am talking with one of my closest friends. I share it all - the good, the bad, the ugly. He knows it all anyway. It is usually during these moments that I start to feel peace and the healing can begin.
Do keep in mind as well that this is a medical issue as well. You need medical help as well. Here is a good article about healing http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=140d3b4c3713a110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1
I love you and I hope that you are able to feel better. Call if you need to. You know I love to talk!
I believe that the atonement works for us if we can step back for a moment and ask "why am I in this situation" "what do I need to learn" When I'm struggling it helps me to say ok, Heavenly Father is teaching me this.
He wants you to learn now how to be strong through hard times. He's teaching you how to search for answers and to gain your faith. In the end you come out ahead.
Keep moving forward, it sounds like you are on the right path.
This is something that I've gone through, too. I think I'm still going through it. I think it's an ongoing process. But, I know how far I've come from how far away I was. My patriarchal blessing tells me that I have the gift of faith to be healed. So, you can imagine how many tortured hours I spent wondering why I wasn't healed yet. I was promised I would be. I believed; I had faith. Yet, I still hurt... it was still there. For me, I had to learn what healing meant. Or, rather, what healing meant for me. I read an excellent article in the Ensign. I'll have to see if I can find it for you. It helped me to know what to look for, and yes, now I can see milestones. And during the process, I've felt my Savior's love, I've felt his pain and hurt for me, I've felt him lifting me above the ugly of the world. I don't know how to "apply" the atonement like you would "apply" a bandaid. I wish I did; it would be a lot easier. But, I think this is working, too.
Looks like it has all been said, and your sisters know what they are talking about. I am a big believer in faith + pharmaceuticals;) (there is a reason faith is listed first)
Yeah, that pretty much covers it. I wish I could add something, too, but your sisters did a pretty awesome job of it.
Love you, Lauri!
one word - faith
have faith that he will be standing next to you coaching you along. Sometimes we can see the light at the end of the tunnel but it's there. We just have to have faith and keep our head above water! Keep doing what you are doing - reading, searching, praying, surround yourself with good things.
Faith
it has helped me through a lot!
I found it. Wonderful article on healing -- not surprising, it's from Richard G. Scott. I think an apostle can put things better than I can! "To Be Healed," Ensign, May 1994. Go to LDS.org, then search the church magazines.
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