A scary storm and what I learned about trusting the Lord

Sarah exploring a Texas river. 

A couple years ago, our family was traveling home from a visit to Georgia. We were driving through the night when we were caught in a violent storm. High winds buffeted our van, making it difficult to drive. Large hail battered our vehicle with deafening noise, making us worries the windshield would crack. Visibility was reduced to a mere four feet as the air full of freezing raindrops. We strained to see the faint glow of the tail lights in front of us, even though they were less that 5 feet away from the taillights as cars inched along the highway. We were traveling through the countryside in East Texas, where there are virtually no towns and no street lights.

The weather worsened and tornadoes were forecast in our area, so we decided to pull over and seek shelter while we waited out the storm. The moment we exited the highway, all visibility was lost. Without the guiding taillights of a car in front of us, we immediately careened off the road and became mired in thick mud over 6 inches deep. 

We didn't realize it at the time, but we had exited into a construction zone. The van was stuck up to its axles in thick mud. When we opened the door to access the situation, the mud was level with our door frame.

We made every effort to free ourselves: we tried to move the van forward or backward, and dug in the mud with our hands in an attempt to free the tires. When this didn’t work, Nathan trudged up the slope to the highway to flag down help from passing cars. There was so much freezing rain and hail in the air that drivers couldn’t see Nathan even though he stood right next to them on the highway as they drove by. Nathan returned to our van drenched and shivering violently from the freezing rain. Our cell phones were all dead, so we were isolated from the world. 

It was the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a very frightening storm.

We were entirely dependent on the Lord for help. We turned to prayer and fervently asked to be freed from the mud so we could move forward and continue our journey. We tried hopefully to escape again, but had no luck. We prayed several times asking for help moving forward, but we were not able to move the van more than one inch. We were blessed with a strong feeling of peace and as assurance that the Lord heard us, but still we couldn’t solve our problem.

Finally we prayed that perhaps someone could stop and offer assistance so we could at least use their phone to call a tow truck. 

Within 3 minutes a large semi-truck pulled over to investigate. It’s funny, but he didn’t actually intend to help us when he originally pulled over. He was convinced we were someone else who had bumped into his truck on the highway, so he had already called the police and help was already dispatched our way. We were also able to use his phone to call for a tow truck.

While we waited hours for help (remember, we were really in the middle of nowhere!) the storm passed and dawn began to light up the sky. As the light slowly crept upon us, we were able to finally see our predicament. 

The Spirit told me to Look and Learn.

Directly in front of our van- less than two feet away!- was a vertical drop off into a deep puddle of water. The Lord had seen what we were blind to. If we had moved forward just a little bit, the steep drop would have damaged our axles and the water would have entered the cabin of the van. We would have been trapped in a desperate situation. The Lord had surely heard our prayers, but was wiser than us and LOVINGLY withheld from granting our ignorant request when we asked to move forward. We were taught a powerful lesson in faith that rainy day.

Faith is trusting the Lord even when we don’t understand. When it seemed like the Lord wasn’t answering our prayers, we maintained our faith in His wisdom even though we couldn’t see His plan. Alma teaches that faith is NOT having a perfect knowledge of things. We are all young in understanding the gospel of Christ and we are all learning new things each day. 

God knows everything even when I foolishly think I know what is best. He sees life's road before us and knows what we need. 

When God's plan don’t seem to make sense, choose to have faith. Choose to trust the Lord. While you may not have all the answers you seek, focus on what you Do know. Hold tight to the knowledge you DO have. 

In the words of Elder Holland's great discourse, "I am not asking you to pretend to have faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have.Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage that is an honest ddeclaration of faith. It in not! Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But don't let those questions stand in the way of fiath working its miracle." Read the entire talk HERE.

I didn't know why the Lord wasn’t granting my requests, but I had faith that He was watching over us and He knew what was best for our situation. In time, His wisdom was revealed to us, and we received understanding. 

When I don’t know answers to tough gospel questions, I use the powerful aid of my faith to bridge the gap and MOVE ON, partaking of the blessings of the gospel as I wait for further knowledge. 

We all will face situations or questions that challenge our faith. This is what the Lord intended, as clearly evidenced in the book of Third Nephi, where the prophet Nephi is commanded by the Lord not to write all things in order to try the people’s faith.

Honestly acknowledge your questions and concerns, but start with what you already know. Begin in faith because all things are possible to them that believe.

Faith is given gladly to ANYONE who seeks it, but it is not obtained without thought or effort. It must be sought after and developed. The scriptures use action words to discuss faith- ASK and ye shall receive, KNOCK and it shall be given to you. 

Remember first and foremost- faith is a choice. We control it by our actions. Faith is increased as we follow the teachings of Christ. As a result, we are responsible for our faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. Alma taught our faith needs constant nourishment, like a young tree.

How are you caring for your faith? 

Ask yourself- Am I nourishing my faith multiple times a day so it can flourish, or am I content to let my faith barely subsist on once-a-day feedings? 

How can we increase our faith? 

Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. We can build our faith by diligently searching the scriptures, praying to the Lord, serving others, worshiping regularly, and obeying God's commandments. Increase faith by delving into the word of God more than once a day, praying several times throughout the day by carrying a prayer in your heart, and striving to keep the Lord on your mind as you go about your day seeking service opportunities.

Let’s consider the parable of the Tree of Life from The Book of Mormon. Nephi says, “They did press forward through the mist of darkness, CLINGING to the iron rod, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

The iron rod can represent faith, for faith is what leads us to follow Jesus Christ's’ example and seek eternal life. 

Listen to the choice of words. The people aren't casually trailing fingertips along the rod. They’re CLINGING. It’s a committed action that requires dedication and effort, perhaps even concentration. The iron rod led people safely through the mists of darkness to eternal life, just as faith in Christ’s teachings can help us navigate safely through our world today. 

However, we are not forced to be faithful, just as the people in Lehi’s vision were not forced to follow the iron rod. God gives us our agency. The choice is ours. Choose to let faith guide your daily choices.. Pray to the Lord in faith, and you’ll know what to do. Christ Himself said, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Furthermore, you have more faith than you think you do because of what the Book of Mormon calls “the greatness of the evidences.” “Ye shall know them by their fruits,” Jesus said, and the fruit of living the gospel is evident in the lives of Latter-day Saints everywhere. As Peter and John said once to an ancient audience, I say today, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard,” and what we have seen and heard is that “a notable miracle hath been done” in the lives of millions of members of this Church. That cannot be denied.

This is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.

Faith leads to knowledge as we experiment upon the words of God to prove His promises. Through exercising faith, I have felt the Spirit witness to me the truthfulness of many things. 

I testify that Christ lives, that He knows you individually and knows your struggles. I testify that God hears our prayers, whether he answers the way we expect or not. I testify that God’s plan can safely guide us home to Him in heaven if we choose to follow His divine path. I know that following Christ's teachings will bring us indescribable joy and peace. I testify that God chose Joseph Smith, imperfections and all, to restore Christs’ full teachings to the earth. I testify that our prophet, Thomas S Monson is truly God’s chosen servant to guide this church. 

I know these things are true, for I have gained this knowledge after the trial of my faith. My faith has been growing from a tiny seed into a very real power that I feel as a shield, and it protects me from many of the woes in our world. It is one of my most beautiful and treasured possessions, and is a vital part of my identity.

Choose to feed your faith and reap the fruit of blessings and understanding that flow from it. If your faith is weak right now, lean on the faith of valiant friends or ecclesiastical leaders. Have hope. Journey on. Keep the Faith.  Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.