Fear Not...

This week, in Pathway, I watched a video clip based on the verses in Matthew chapter 10.  This is where we read about when Jesus called his Apostles and he sent them out to preach.

Their missions were basically begun with the premise "Don't take anything with you.  Just go and trust that God will take care of you."

 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

In Helaman we read about Nephi out on his own mission and it's not going well.  In Chapter 10:2-3 we read that Nephi was despondent and headed to his home.  On the way God speaks to him and tells him how he trusts Nephi to always do what's right.  God trusts Nephi so much that He promises Nephi that whatever he asks God will do.  And then He tells Nephi

 11 And now behold, I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.
 12 And behold, now it came to pass that when the Lord had spoken these words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes who were scattered about upon the face of the land, and began to declare unto them the word of the Lord which had been spoken unto him, concerning their destruction if they did not repent.

Nephi so trusted God that he immediately departed and returned to the mission field just as the original apostles followed Christ's charge unwavering.  I admire the apostles and prophets for their faith.

Every day I deal with anxiety caused by uncertainties in life.  Today I was reading for tomorrow's lesson in Elder's Quorum.  There's a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball:

“Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery” [Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98].

In 2 Nephi 2:25 it reads "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy". By experiencing adversity we can appreciate the times of joy.  The key is not to fear.