No Monster of the Sea Could Break Them (Nov 29, 2024)

 Fierce & furious winds. Tossed upon the mountain waves of the sea. Great & terrible tempests. Buried in the deep.

The Jaredites’ journey across the sea is filled with visual language, & I feel it!

I also feel their faith. From the beginning- building. Asking for light. Preparing themselves physically & spiritually. “Commending themselves unto the Lord their God.” Like, ok here we go…

It wasn’t smooth. But they sang! Praising God through it all.🙏

“And thus they were driven forth; & no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; & they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.”

It’s no surprise life is not perfect & we should, ya know, “find joy in the journey.” I know this! Life is hard but we gotta keep our chin up & keep the faith, right? This is a common theme! But for some reason, every time I read about the Jaredites it just gets me in the feels. Just the beautiful fact that even though the storm was rough, it was taking them exactly where they needed to be. The fact that they were sometimes above the water, then completely buried by it. But all the while, they had “light continually”! Through the good times & bad.

And they KNEW: No monster could break them. No whale could mar them. This. This is why they sang! With God, they would withstand. With God, their barges would hold tight. With God, they’d be brought back up to the surface again.

With God they’d make it where they were meant to be.

Threats abound! Storms approach! We get thrown off balance in our life barges. I have questions. I struggle! But what keeps me grounded? The hope that the gospel brings me! The feeling of peace, joy, & surety in my soul from Jesus Christ is indescribable & I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is bombarded with skepticism, criticism, ridicule, & hate. But no monster of the sea can break me. I am bound to Jesus Christ. My light. And, like the Jaredites, at the end of my journey I will shed tears of joy & thank Him for His tender mercies through it all.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)