Because of Grace

I wanted to talk about grace. Specifically, the grace of Christ. Because even though it is something that I don’t fully understand, I know that it can be a great power in our lives.

Now I haven’t experienced first hand a divorce, my parents even with their problems are together and can find joy in their marriage. But during the lesson this week I just kept thinking about the role of grace in this notion.

The grace of Christ is a diving help or strength that is given through the mercy and love of God, and everyone needs it. Grace is an enabling power from God. In 2 Timothy verse 1 it says: Thou therefore…be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. There is strength available through the grace of Christ. Jacob 4:7 in the Book of Mormon teaches us that grace gives us power. Romans 5:2 we access grace through faith. 1 Peter 5:5 grace is given to the humble.

Divorce doesn’t happen all at once and neither do a lot of things. It starts simple. With small little things that can bottle up and explode or pile up and become a mountain of grief.

Although I do recognize that divorce happens, and maybe that was part of the solution for some families and individuals. But I know that it can cause a lot of pain, grief and guilt. And I wanted to focus on combating those negative feelings.

There are many scriptures that teach us how our guilt can literally be taken away. For example, like in Enos chapter one. This chapter shares the experience where Enos stated, “my guilt was swept away. Or another example is in Alma 24:10 which states “I thank my God…and taken away the guilt from our hearts.

But you have to humble yourself before God in order to access the grace of God. And I would hope this experience would lead one to humility and faith rather than bitterness and anger. Even though it does happen with some people. But there is an important distinction, I think. There is the guilt of man, which comes from the adversary that causes you to feel worthless and feeling like you will never be good enough. This guilt eats at you and makes you feel like you are in a hole. But we can turn that in to a “godly guilt” or godly sorrow. Let it become divine discontent, which is when we compare of what we are to what we have the power to become. And the way this is done is how you react to these negative feelings, turn to Christ because He has promised He is enough.

One talk that I studied a while ago that I really loved was a message shared by Elder D Todd Christofferson. He shares about the miracle of manna. He shares, “Jehovah provided daily bread from heaven to the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Each day, people were to gather enough for just that day—except on the day before the Sabbath, when they were to gather enough for two days—or else it would spoil.

[Jehovah] was teaching them to … walk with Him today and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day on the next day, and so on.”

The thing that I take away is there are some days, moments, or experiences that are just going to be hard. They are going to hurt you and break you down. But the Lord has promised us daily strength. Daily relief.

Sometimes we just need to rely on the daily bread of the Lord. He sends His Spirit to not only guide you, but also to comforter you and bring you peace. Elder Holland also taught that sometimes you are just feeling discouraged, but Christ knows your heart and has felt what you have felt. And it is okay to rely on someone else’s strengths for a time.

But no matter the trial, Lord has promised strength when you turn to Him. And He always keeps His promises.