A Brightness of Hope

Do you ever feel like the Olive tree whose branches continually get cut down? You know it’s for your own good and it is necessary for your growth in order to become that tree that brings forth rich and vibrant olives. You know life is hard and although you may not know how, you really want to get back up, shake off the saw dust and start growing again. The important truth here is the desire and motivation to get back up. Why is that? Why is it that I am who I am? Why do I want to keep going when things get tough? Wouldn’t it be easier to just give up?

Job says in 14:7, “For there is Hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” Why do we keep going? Well for one reason, I think it’s because we have the Hope that things will get better. Maybe not right away but everything will be alright in the end. We know that there is a reason we face these trials. We know that we will be rewarded for struggles that we have here. Not only that, but we know that there is great purpose to our struggles in life. Those times that we feel cut down we have to remember that we will sprout again and that our tender branches will not cease. We don’t give up because we know that we have a purpose here on earth. We know that we have been prepared to come down to earth at this time. We know the plan of happiness and we know that if we choose we can live with our Father in Heaven again.

I have a wound on the back of my upper leg that I have had for almost 4 years. I have had 7 surgeries with the last one having been done just a few weeks ago. This time the surgeon went in and scraped off parts of the bone in the hopes that this will once again rejuvenate new tissue and produce positive results by healing. Like an olive tree, parts must be cut off in order for the bone and wound to heal. In addition, like an olive tree, the body must be nurtured and cared for in order to grow…which topic will be discussed later. :) The wound must undergo cleaning, or adversities before the body will allow it to heal. And just because it hasn’t healed the last 6 times I have had this surgery, doesn’t give me an excuse to lose hope. I know that it will one day be well again and be strong so “the tender branch thereof will not cease.” I know there is a purpose to this trial in my life. I know it will one day heal, I just don’t know when that will be. I know we all have a great spiritual destiny and we need to live every day remembering and believing that. I love this quote from Elder Anderson,

"Your spiritual destiny will have obstacles, delays, and equipment malfunctions. There will be mistakes. You may wonder if you are going to make it. Don’t be discouraged! You will also have moments of hope and faith as doors open and obstacles are overcome. Continue, persist, above all, believe in Christ and learn to follow Him and His prophets; endure, as Nephi said, with a “brightness of hope” (2 Nephi 31:20)." (“Preparing for your Spiritual Destiny” Jan ’10)

I know our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy. If you are feeling down, pick yourself back up, dust off and Arise! Remember who you are!

So why do you and I keep going when things get rough?...Well it all begins with believing and knowing that we were chosen and reserved for "Such a Time as This."