"Peace, be still."

"Peace, be still."  This is a simple phrase that the Savior used to calm the storm in Mark 4: 39.  He was awoken from his sleep in the middle of a great storm(verse38), "and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?"  He calmed the storm, and in verse 40 "said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"  The Lord of all is willing to help us through our storms of life if we but ask Him. 

The key it that the Lord is willing to help us through.  In this case he calmed the storm.  Other cases, He has even healed people.  He definatly has the ability to heal and take away; but a lot of the time, He gives us strength to carry the load.  In whatever way He helps us, He always helps!

If we desire to have the Lord's help, we must ask.  Prayer is a powerful source!  Sometimes when we go through trials or make mistakes, when we need His support the most, satan tries to convince us to not pray for whatever reasons.  Satan tries to make us think we are not worthy.  Satan tries to make us think it won't work.  Whatever he tries, it is a lie!  2 Nephi 32: 8 reads, "And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray."  Pray!

The Lord will not abandon us, only we can turn our backs on Him.  Helaman 7: 17 reads, "O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you?"  It wasn't so much that the Lord left them, it is because they drove Him away with their actions.  Verse 18 reads, "It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you."  We must do things to invite the Savior.  We must pray, especially in hard times.  In James 4: 7, and the first part of verse 8 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."

I know that as we trust the Lord and ask for His help, He will help us.  He knows what is best for us.  Whether we will be strengthened or healed, the Lord will help!  I know that there is power in prayer.  We can feel the warm words of our Savior, "Peace, be still."

Images found at:

http://lds.org/new-era/1985/06/mormonad?lang=eng&query=mormonad

http://www.sugardoodle.net/sdclipart/?category_name=jesus-christ

http://lds.org/hf/art/display/1,16842,4218-1-2-57,00.html