Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that the faithful are strengthened by the Lord and will not be beaten down by the storms of life. We need to give thanks and praise to God.  Alma 26: 5-8 "Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted. Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.  But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.  Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever."

In the Old Testament I read that at the Second Coming of Christ, the proud and wicked will be burned as stubble, but to those who reverence the Lord, He will arise with healing in His wings. We don't know when Christ will come again, but we need to be prepared by keeping His commandments and making sure we won't be among those who are burned. The time to repent is now.  Malachi 4:1-2 "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall."

Some verses with a thought booklet might give some insight into why bad things sometimes happen to us.  They say that before I was afflicted, I went astray but now I obey Thy word.  And it was good that I was afflicted because it helped me learn Thy commandments. Sometimes it takes us going through trials and tribulations in order to humble us and get us to turn to the Lord. If all is going well in our lives, it can be easier to forget God and not be mindful how much we need Him in our lives.  But once things start going wrong, we are forced to turn to Him because we have no where else to go for help. God is always good and wants good for us. But sometimes by allowing us to suffer, He is able to correct us and refine us and prepare us so we can dwell with Him for eternity.  Psalms 119:67, 71 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."