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TheDiscipleMD

I think we all have that moment of weakness, when we feel that somehow the Lord has abandoned us to the fire of it all! Many years ago I once found myself alone, late at night pondering over the plight of a problem that was vexing and one that was consuming my soul with worry. As I bathed myself in pity, I came across the words written in Alma:

“And he began to plead…but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them…and sent men to cast stones at them. And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.”

It was such an ugly scene that was being played out in my mind, yet as I read those words my heart was lifted. For some reason I took great comfort in the knowledge that, through the centuries, believers have never, nor ever will be, immune from the trials of this world. And though the flicker of the world’s flames should burn my body, yet my soul could only be consumed if I allowed anger and bitterness to enter therein.

Metaphorically, I am sure most of us have felt, at one time or the other, that we have been cast in the fire. Yet the words Alma spoke as he was forced to watch the travesty rang true to my soul:

“… for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory…”

As I closed the scriptures and pondered on the greatness of the Lord that night, I felt a little closer to understanding that, while being cast in the fire was certainly nothing I wanted or desired, the lessons learned were something that I needed in order to become more like Him! And the knowledge of the glory of his love that night, for me, was sufficient enough to soothe my soul and extinguish the pain of the refiner’s fire.