Consider the Lillies

I'm just having a lazy, contemplative morning this morning. As I was browsing through people's facebooks and blogs, I came across a link to this song. I've always loved Consider the Lillies, but in recent months it has taken on a special meaning.

As I listened to it, I was brought back to a special, sacred Sunday in a hospital room. It had been an intense week filled with tests and lots of unknowns. Isaac was still on his mission, something that was hard for each of us. As we stood around the bed of Isaac's father who was just diagnosed or would soon be diagnosed with a severe malignant brain cancer, we held a special Sunday meeting there for him. The Spirit permeated the room as we all joined together in prayer. My mother and I had prepared this song to sing as part of this special devotional. We hardly got through the first verse before the tears began, but we were able to make it through. The last verse seemed to especially ring true in my heart as I sang, "Consider the sweet tender children, who must suffer on this earth." And then of course the chorus, "...and he will heal those who trust him, and make their hearts as gold."

As I thought back to that moment, I could remember the peace that filled each of us, the peace that comes in knowing beyond any doubt that God is with us. He is mindful of us and always will be. No matter what trials we may find ourselves in, we have to know that God will not leave us. We have to know that "all these things will give us experience and will be for our good." He knows each lily in each field. He knows how they grow and how they wilt, especially when they encounter things completely out of their control.

Today, I realized once again how blessed my life really is. I'm so grateful for the peace that the knowledge of the Gospel can bring. Isaac's father is still with us, stubborn and determined as ever. It's been almost a year since that day, and for the past year we've witnessed so many extensive miracles. So even though, from an outsider looking in it may seem like this trial is unfair, undeserved. I like to think that the miracles we have witnessed and the blessings we have received are the unfair, undeserved part of this all. It has been a humbling, faith testing experience, but God continues to watch over us and bless us. He will never cease doing so as long as we have our faith.

We just have to believe in Him.