"Be still and know that I am God."

Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.

D&C 101:16


This is one of my favorite verses, and is often quoted among the youth and leaders of my ward. While I often remember it in the company of those people, this week it was especially and constantly on my mind with everything that's been going on at work and in other facets of life. I've had to trust God to know what would happen, because I certainly had no idea what awaited me behind every corner.

As you know from my blog posts the past few days, I was offered a promotion in the middle of the hiring process at another job. It was a good deal, but I wanted the other job more and kept trying for that instead. But God knew all along that I wouldn't get the new job this early, and when I was finally rejected after a week of effort concerning it, the promotion was there to back me up. If I had to stay at the warehouse another few months, I at least needed better pay. God knew that, and He took care of me even when I wanted to force His help into another endeavor. There still is no guarantee that I will get this promotion, but whatever happens, as long as I listen and obey, the Lord will lead me to greater things.

I also had the opportunity to help Gordon plan youth conference on Friday. The last two days had come together early on, but ever since planning started months ago, we somehow hadn't been able to put together the first day. Nothing we tried fit, no matter how great we thought it would be.

Meanwhile, we have also been trying to plan a trip to do baptisms at the temple. But every time we'd settle on a date, something would come up to prevent us from going. Last week was our most recent plan, but true to pattern, it didn't work out and we ended up doing something else. And, until just recently, we've had to continue pushing it back because of various obstacles.

The Lord's hand has been in all of this. He wants us to go to the temple . . . but He wants it to be at a time He knows we can get the most benefit out of it. Likewise, He wants our youth conference to be a great spiritual experience, bringing us closer to Him. At times we've become a little frustrated in our planning of these activities because nothing has worked out. But God places obstacles in our way for a reason.

In the final planning stages of youth conference, Gordon remembered (and reminded us of) D&C 101, and we stopped trying to force it and went with whatever God put in our hearts and minds. After doing this, it barely took an hour on Friday to plan our activity! Everything came together perfectly; I'll wait to go into detail until my report later on, but we'll basically be centering the first day on Church history. We're starting the day with some early stuff, then progressing to the modern day, finishing with our trip to the temple as the perfect and most relevant close to the day's spiritual lessons. It all just came together when we became still and remembered that the Lord was God; there was no frustration of any sort, all the ideas came easily, and we all agreed unnaturally with each other on what should be done. God must have something important for us to learn at youth conference this year.

The week's last reminder of D&C 101 came at a family gathering today. Aunt Ramona held an open house for her daughter and son-in-law, Alyssa and Lonnie, and their children, who had made a rare trip here from Austin and would be going home tomorrow. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with my cousin and her family again, but I especially won't forget what happened near the end. As I was talking to Grandma Read, she suddenly remembered something and pulled a white envelope from her purse.

"Aunt Rosanne wanted me to give this to you," she said. "She didn't want to mail it; you know how people steal greeting cards. I meant to give it to you a while ago, but I set it on the piano and forgot about it."

I thanked my grandma and took the envelope home. Inside was a belated graduation card, with a note from the Schulthieses that read, "Sorry this is a bit late. You have a great future ahead of you." And enclosed therein was a twenty dollar bill--a sorely needed help as I buy my college books this week. I've been worrying the past few days that my finances may not yet be sufficient for my books, but I've been doing what I've needed to be doing, and the Lord is picking up whatever I leave behind. Sure, twenty bucks isn't going to buy a textbook. But it may just push me over that line when I make the purchase. In any case, however, every little bit helps, especially when it reminds me to put my trust in the Lord.

"Be still and know that I am God." In the hustle and bustle of life, do we put enough action into those words? I know I haven't. But I also know that if we are doing what we're supposed to be doing, and obeying the Lord's will, He will help us through anything. When we work for something and can't quite go the whole way, God will take care of what's left. He will inspire us, He will place aid in our paths, and He will do many other things to see that His children succeed in their righteous endeavors, if they make an honest effort. It is up to us to listen and obey.

I'm grateful to have such a loving Heavenly Father who cares enough for me to reach His own hand into my life. I'm thankful for all the help He has given me this week and many times before, and for the generous help He will continue to give me if I continue on the path of righteousness. God loves His children; why should we worry? I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.