Day 36 Receiving Comfort and Mercy in Affliction

In Matthew 5.13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me and know that I am cheering for your every success. Welcome to day 36 on our 365 day journey.

Yesterday, we had a little bit of an Isaiah chapter. We got another one today, but stick with me because we're going to keep digging into the role the Savior plays in our lives as we look at these Isaiah chapters. Today, if you're following along on the 365-day journey, you would read 1 Nephi 21.

We are almost done by the way with 1 Nephi. 1 Nephi 21 verses 4 through 26. Finish off the chapter there. And remember, when you're getting stuck inside these Isaiah chapters, just find even, even, doesn even have to be the full verse Find the sentence or the phrase that helps you build a better relationship with your Redeemer Jesus Christ Today our verse comes from verse 13 I love this one and I got a little quick story after verse 13 So let dive into verse 13 and then let talk about it It says, Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established, and break forth into singing, O mountains.

For they shall be smitten no more, for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. We talked yesterday about those in the furnace of affliction. And then here we have this verse that's saying, sing and be joyful and break forth in singing, O mountains, like everyone rejoice, because the Lord is going to have mercy upon his afflicted.

I love this one. This is kind of the backside of it. And I don't know if I get all of the, you know, the people in the East that'll be established in those types of things.

But once again, I'm just looking for the little segment that makes sense to me and helps me with my relationship. And I've had experiences in my life where the Lord has comforted those that are in affliction. And today I kind of picked, maybe it's a little bit of a silly story as I look back on it So let go back to Allen in middle school for just a second There was a time in middle school when little Allen apparently was wearing different underwears than the cool guys wore.

Little Allen used to get bullied in gym class when he would change. I hated having to change because I knew that there was this one particular kid that was going to bully me about the underwear I know it sounds silly, but that's what was going on. And one day I was, I was just trying, I was kind of in that moment.

Like I mentioned yesterday, I was like, man, I'm just trying to do, I'm trying to be a good guy. What is this? I can't seem to avoid this kid wherever I go.

And I'm just trying to be a good guy. Like, please help me out. Just, just help me out.

And he started to bully me when I was changing. And you know what? Interestingly enough, a bigger bully came over to the other bully and he pushed him against the lockers.

And he just said, Hey, leave him alone. This bigger bully was a kid that actually rode on my bus. And he just said, Allen never hurt anybody.

Just leave him alone. And then the bigger bully didn't say anything to Allen. He didn't say anything to me.

But the other kid just looked at me and he looked at him and he walked away. And from that day on, I never had anybody talk again, thankfully. Never had anyone make fun of my underwear again.

And it was such a moment for me. And as I look Jeffrey R Holland Russell M Nelson Dallin H Oaks Henry B Eyring Dieter F Uchtdorf I knew that look I was just that moment of like hey I just trying to be a good guy I had been trying to be a good guy to the bullies on the bus too Like I was just trying to like hey, I'm just here in the world trying to be my little pebble, you know, drop in the lake and have some good ripples around me. And sure enough, I felt in that moment that, hey, the Lord's aware of you and he's going to help you out in those moments of affliction.

So, small story and yet powerful story that, look, the Lord sees us even in those moments where we just feel like, man, nobody's on my side here. I'm here to tell you the Lord is on your side. Keep doing your best and keep trying to live the commandments and He's there and He's on your side and He's going to help in those moments of affliction.

That's all I have for today, my friends. Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small.

Keep it simple and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow. I hope you are too.