Whether you turn on the news, open a newspaper, or glance at the magazines that line the checkout stands, it is pretty clear that our world is in a state of turmoil and unrest. There is so much violence and hatred in today's world that it is really easy to feel uneasy. Wrong is being displayed as right, and right is being torn down and advertised as wrong. The adversary is pulling out all stops to give us every reason imaginable to live in fear. I am grateful, however, for a small but very significant miracle: the fact that we can have internal peace in spite of external chaos.
The beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it lifts our sights heavenward and lengthens our perspective to extend beyond this life. We don't have to fear! In fact, we shouldn't fear!
We don't have to fear because life goes on after death! This life is just one step in an eternal process.
We don't have to fear because families can live together after this life! We can be with the people we love forever.
We don't have to fear because God can help us raise strong and righteous children! He has given us all the tools we need to raise righteous families.
We don't have to fear because we know that God is personally aware of us! Though He is not with us physically, He knows our needs better than any earthly parent knows their children's needs.
We don't have to fear because God speaks to a prophet today, just as He did in Biblical times! He can warn us and teach us through his prophets.
We don't have to fear because repentance and change is possible! Each day is an opportunity to wake up and become better than we were yesterday.
We don't have to fear because God lives and He loves us! He is not distant, but rather, ever present in our lives.
This list of just the tip of the iceberg. I am grateful for the blessing of peace amidst the storm. I am grateful that I have a reason to have faith instead of fear. God wants us to be happy - "...men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25) He cannot remove the storm that rages on around us because it is a means to an end. The Savior is preparing to come again, and things just have to get worse before they get better.
Although there are horrible things happening in the world, I am not convinced that we live in horrible times. In fact, I think that we live in beautiful times! Every dispensation has had wickedness and hardship, but the Lord has never forgotten His people. And He never will. He has given us all the tools that we need to have peace and joy while we live here on earth. We need not fear because we live in great times and there are brilliantly wonderful times to come. I am so grateful that I can feel peace amidst the turmoil; it truly is one of my most precious miracles.
