SEEKING THE SAVIOR
I've been lying in bed all night hoping to be able to fall asleep. The past two nights I have been in such extreme pain that I have been unable to sleep. The pain began last Friday, but I quickly dismissed it. On Sunday, I could no longer convince myself that it was nothing, and I went into the dentist office first thing Monday morning. Who would have thought that an abscessed tooth could cause so much pain? Now, three days later...three days after having a root canal--I am still in extreme pain. The dentist said that the infection had spread to my gums. It is his hope that the antibiotics will fight the infection and the swelling will stop. For the moment, my cheek has swollen past its normal limit, my ear is throbbing with the infection, and my glands are also swollen. Last night my son accidentally bumped my cheek, and I couldn't help but cry.
Tonight, while lying in bed, my pain throbbed my cheeks, and I turned to my Heavenly Father in prayer. This wasn't my first prayer through this ordeal. I've been praying the whole time. However, this time as I prayed, I felt prompted in my prayer. I felt my inner being ask for the strength to withstand the pain. I asked for the comfort of the Savior, and I prayed that He would be with me. As these words were spoken, I was reminded of our spiritual journey in this life.
We need our Savior to withstand the temptations that so easily beset us. This life is meant to test us. It is meant to purify our hearts--either we turn to our Savior, or we don't. One of my favorite scriptures is found in 2 Nephi. It reads, "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves--to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life" (2 Nephi 10:23). I love the gift of agency. I love that we are allowed to choose our path. With that being said, we cannot expect to traverse this world without Christ--to withstand alone is impossible. He suffered so that He might succor us in our trials--not only the temptations of this life, but also all of the heart ache we will face. His sacrifice can carry us to eternal life--if we turn to Him. So, will we turn to Him? Will we seek Him in our trials? I have no doubt that He is waiting--waiting for us to open the door and let Him in.
