"How often do we not do more because we pray for wind and none comes? We pray for good things and they don't seem to happen, so we sit and wait and do no more. We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impressions to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of."
In other words, we are to always prayer for guidance and comfort from our Heavenly Father. In fact, we are usually quick to do so when we need help -- which is exactly what we are taught to do. But, as Elder Groberg asks, what happens when we ask for that help and none comes? Does it mean that He is not mindful of us? That He has no ears to hear? No heart to care? No recollection of us to remember our spirit?
Of course not.
There are times when comfort and help come immediately. And then there are times when we need to actually do the hard work, using the spirit as our guide and constant companion. This can be hard, it's easier to want to wait for the answer to fall to our feet as if by heavenly Fed Ex, but this rarely happens. Most times we need to push up our sleeves and work on easing our own hardships, praying as we go.
So what does this all mean? It means that we need to trust in our Heavenly Father that as we pray to Him for guidance, He may not send any wind in order for us to grow and become stronger through our trials and struggles. He may still allow the nightmares to come in the darkest of nights just so we learn to work through their meaning in the brightest of days. And just because the inspiration doesn't come in the way we thought it might -- by taking away the trial in the first place -- it doesn't mean that the final outcome won't be for our benefit. Truly, it is in the waiting of the wind that brings the blessings of humility and a richer understanding of Heavenly Father.
In my time off from work so far, I've learned there is no such thing as time off from work. Never have I ever been so grateful.
I really needed this reminder today - thank you!
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