A scripture of comfort

[Anonymous]

The past two weeks have wearied my heart. General Conference had some tough bumps for me. (Some joys, too) But the bumps were quickly added 2 essays on Polygamy, a video on garments, and surgery. Tonight my mom sent out a warm family email – I mean that sincerely, in it she sent my Dad’s gospel doctrine scriptures. I’ve read it a 1000 times, but tonight in my aching heart it meant more than it had before. I just wanted to share it with you.

Quote:

Isaiah 53:3-5King James Version (KJV)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I don’t find much comfort in the scripture, even though I have deep respect for the mission of the Savior and what he did for mankind both philosophically and with the atonement. But I do appreciate reading it as something that uplifted you,Mom3.

I guess I have this resigned attitude that what will happen to me, will happen to me — and proof of God and the Savior is in how they lift the burdens when I ask for relief. The burden lifting happened to me when I was a teenager but never in adulthood. We are told not to rely on the “arm of flesh” but I find the absence of tangible support of my emotions from God or Christ leaves me with the fall-back position of acceptance and coping when difficult circumstances hit my life.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing, Mom3. I’m glad that you find comfort in this scripture, and I recognize that each of us have our own ways of coping with the many challenges of life and challenges to our own faith. In stake conference this weekend we had a speaker who extolled the virtues of reading the Book of Mormon every day, something that I can’t see myself doing at the moment – I don’t even read scriptures every day. Nevertheless, it works for him and he finds comfort and strength from doing so – and I couldn’t be more happy for him and for you. In a moment like this it’s time for me to rejoice with those who rejoice.

[Anonymous]

SD and DJ – that’s fun to type. I concur with both of you. There was a time when I drank daily from scripture, there have also been plenty of years without. I found my peace from that scripture very surprising, too. My mom didn’t have any agenda in sending, she didn’t even type the actual words, she just typed the number and verse. I looked it up separately just for context – it was then that for reasons I cannot explain – it comforted me big time. I think that’s why I shared it here because it was a surprise, but so life sustaining in a way that I hadn’t felt in so long.

Like you Silent – I now live day to day. I still love a God/Father – hopefully heavenly parents. I still admire Jesus Christ whether exact Savior or really amazing individual. But I also now assume they are probably very busy with other more pressing issues or this time is ours to get through – like when you send your kids to school. Because when they are in school it’s up to them if they make it or don’t.

All and all it took me by happy surprise – I am grateful you let me share it and gave me hugs back. I’m drinking them in deeply now.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing, mom3.

And don’t forget the next verse too:

Quote:

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

I find comfort in that whole chapter 53. It brings me peace to believe I’m not so alone in my suffering, and to reflect on that part of v4: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows”.

I am not so alone. And I am not misunderstood, and many others have trials worse than what I am called to pass through. This thought strengthens me to press on.

Thanks for helping me reflect on it mom3. I know your trials are uniquely yours, and at times seem so hard to bear. But you are not alone. Bless you.

[Anonymous]

That is one of my favorite passages – and it doesn’t matter to me if it is a literal explanation of what actually happened or some kind of divine symbolism.

I love the power of the concept of a Savior and a God who would agree to suffer for no other reason than pure love.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this, mom3. It brought back memories of singing Handel’s Messiah when I was in high school choir and later when driving around with one of my mission companions around Christmas. I love that music with all my heart.

Heber13 wrote:

It brings me peace to believe I’m not so alone in my suffering, and to reflect on that part of v4: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows”.

For some reason, the way you phrased this touched me this evening. I’m slowly beginning to thaw towards the idea that holding positive beliefs can be beneficial, regardless of things like evidence, knowledge, or even direct experience.

[Anonymous]

Daeruin wrote:

I’m slowly beginning to thaw towards the idea that holding positive beliefs can be beneficial, regardless of things like evidence, knowledge, or even direct experience.

Well said, Daeruin. I fully believe it can be at times very beneficial. To some, it may seem like a lot of mental gymnastics…but idk…to me, it seems comforting and real and very genuine. It makes it so worth staying. And since I’ve tried to do that, in all honesty…I’ve had positive direct experiences I choose not to deny.

So there is a weird thing that can go on, a paradox, about seeing scriptures and prophets very differently than I did before, less belief literally, and yet…finding great value in having faith in it and allowing myself to have experiences with it, if I view it from a certain perspective.

The interesting thing is sometimes to recognize I’m having negative experiences and positive experiences, both. By studying Eckhard Tolle or others, I feel like it helps to recognize it for what it is, both good and bad. And then to try to learn what that means to me, what faith means to me, and how I might try to maximize the positive, and minimize the negative, to make it worthwhile in my life. It is an ongoing effort. But it comforts me still, and helps me feel less alone in my life.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and feelings.

[Anonymous]

mom3 wrote:

The past two weeks have wearied my heart. General Conference had some tough bumps for me. (Some joys, too) But the bumps were quickly added 2 essays on Polygamy, a video on garments, and surgery. Tonight my mom sent out a warm family email – I mean that sincerely, in it she sent my Dad’s gospel doctrine scriptures. I’ve read it a 1000 times, but tonight in my aching heart it meant more than it had before. I just wanted to share it with you.

Quote:

Isaiah 53:3-5King James Version (KJV)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

This is why I listen to Handel’s Messiah when the weather turns, through Christmas, heading into Easter. It ends up be virtually all year.

Hope you’re recovering well.

[Anonymous]

Ann wrote:

This is why I listen to Handel’s Messiah when the weather turns, through Christmas, heading into Easter. It ends up be virtually all year.

Hope you’re recovering well.

I’ve always thought of The Messiah as more of an Easter piece than a Christmas piece. Not that there’s no Christmas in it, but there seems to be more Easter. I listen to it, or at least parts of it, anytime I feel like it.

[Author]

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