I have had a lot of experiences recently that have tested that faith and humility. When we trust in his will and timing, we work in faith to accomplish what the Lord wants us to do, and everything that happens around us, we trust that it will work out.
When we begin to assume that life should go a certain way, or when we get comfortable in how it is going, that is when we need to watch out. This life is for us to grow. Even though it would be nice for us to kick back and enjoy life sometimes, I know that this is not when I grow the most. I am content that as I continue to build my faith and trust in the Lord, everything will work out right.
In a recent conference talk entitled, "As Many as I Love I Rebuke and Chasten" Elder Christofferson told this story
"President Hugh B. Brown, formerly a member of the Twelve and a counselor in the First Presidency, provided a personal experience. He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:
“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”
President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”
Years later, President Brown was a field officer in the Canadian Army serving in England. When a superior officer became a battle casualty, President Brown was in line to be promoted to general, and he was summoned to London. But even though he was fully qualified for the promotion, it was denied him because he was a Mormon. The commanding general said in essence, “You deserve the appointment, but I cannot give it to you.” What President Brown had spent 10 years hoping, praying, and preparing for slipped through his fingers in that moment because of blatant discrimination. Continuing his story, President Brown remembered:
“I got on the train and started back … with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. … When I got to my tent, … I threw my cap on the cot. I clenched my fists, and I shook them at heaven. I said, ‘How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?’ I was as bitter as gall.
“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness. …
“… And now, almost 50 years later, I look up to [God] and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’” 5
God knew what Hugh B. Brown was to become and what was needed for that to happen, and He redirected his course to prepare him for the holy apostleship."
Trust in God. He knows what he is doing.
1 comment:
I loved this post. I have missed your (more) regular posting, although I understand why it hasn't been so regular. :)
In a conversation with LJ, Chad Lewis once told him, "If you ever want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." It's a difficult principle to grow, but the greater your faith becomes, happiness just flows right behind it.
In my case, that little flow of happiness is a little chubby brown boy who you will meet in just about five months. :)
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