I speak unto any who have known grief, a grief so deep and so hurtful that you felt you could scarce endure it. There are the long and lonely days, followed by nights of heart rending sobs and a pillow wet with tears. “Father, where art Thou? From whence cometh solace if not from Thee? Beloved and merciful Lord, canst Thou not hear my plea? I hurt, dear Lord. I hurt, and I cannot be consoled.” The deepest of grief comes always because of the loss of another whom one loved more than oneself. Always. There will come to that grief stricken soul a multitude of why’s? Why? Why did this happen? The answer may not be clear, but we seek comfort and understanding in these words: “My ways [are] higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts…” {1} In your deepest grief, when you have borne so much pain and scarce can bear more, when your prayers are reduced to sobbing, do you not suppose He is near?Do you not suppose that if the veil were parted you would see your Beloved Lord there with you, the tears streaming down His face? He who “…hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…”{2} Do you suppose these to be mere words and without meaning? Oh, He loves you, more than your power to comprehend. When you grieve, when you weep, He grieves and weeps with you. He loves you! At Gethsemane He intoned, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death…” And He fell on His face and prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” {3} We learn then that healing begins, with these words, “Thy will be done, O Lord. Thy will be done.” Then begins to come that peace which surpasseth understanding, but only after much sorrow, when we begin to put our hand in His. We will discover at a later day, that no prayer goes unanswered, that what He promises, He fulfills, for “…though the heavens and the earth pass away,(His) word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled…” {4} and this in His own time, and in His own way, and according to His own will. Oh, you of the broken heart, know nothing doubting, that your afflictions, if borne prayerfully and meekly, will work for your good, and to the glory of Him who has wept with you. {5}
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, …
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design …
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine. …
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, …
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake! {6}
{1} (Isaiah 55:9)
{2} (Isaiah 53:4-5)
{3} (Matthew 26:38-39}
{4} (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)
{5} (Doctrine & Covenants 98:3)
{6} (How Firm a Foundation)