{"id":10792,"date":"2019-08-29T09:51:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T15:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/?p=10792"},"modified":"2019-08-29T09:51:49","modified_gmt":"2019-08-29T15:51:49","slug":"power-to-overcome-what-a-savior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/29\/power-to-overcome-what-a-savior\/","title":{"rendered":"Power to Overcome: What a Savior!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We talk a lot about managing our anxieties, fears, and addictions. Each one of us suffers chronically or from time to time. Is it possible to find peace and relief? Yes. Jesus Christ has paid the price for our permanent release from unhappiness. We have many scriptural antidotes that remind us of this gift and power to overcome. Yes. Power to Overcome! Oh, what a Savior!<\/span><\/p>\n

I love that expression from Corrie Ten Boom: \u201cThank You that You Yourself teach us how to pray and how to believe through Your Holy Spirit. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Amen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a topic we all struggle to find answers. It seems recently I have come across some really wonderful answers that actually bring joy in the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Is Sin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

First of all, I think we need to recognize what sin is. The scriptures say, he \u201cthat knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin\u201d (James 4:17).<\/a> Anything that separates us from God is sin. Being on this earth is a separation from God. We are sinners just living this mortal existence. And sin makes us unhappy. That\u2019s why we are commanded to repent daily. Not because we\u2019re bad people, but by praying and repenting daily, we bring Heavenly Father and His spirit back into our lives so we can overcome opposition and unhappiness.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, everyone sins simply by being alive, faulty, and human. The good news is that we were never meant to be stuck in this state of being.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m reading a book called I Stand at the Door and Knock<\/a><\/em>, by Corrie Ten Boom. She and her sister were imprisoned in Ravensbruck, by the Nazis. She is very open about how she was blessed to be saved, concentrating on Jesus Christ while trapped in this living hell. Her stories make me think about what I do in my life.<\/span><\/p>\n

One story is about a young man who steals some potatoes. He goes to the priest to ask for forgiveness for stealing three bags. The priest says, \u2018But you only stole two.\u2019 The young man says, \u2018Yes, but I\u2019m confessing for the bag I will steal tomorrow.\u2019 \u2026 Jesus saved the adulterous woman from death by stoning, but He also said, \u201cGo, and sin no more\u201d (John 8:11).<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Is it reasonable that Jesus should demand that of us? As imperfect beings, we may make the same mistakes over and over again. Yet, He has provided a way for us to overcome our imperfections by laying our sins (and mistakes, and hang-ups, and fears, and hurts, and pain, and uncertainty, and whatever else holds us back) on the altar so He can receive them all<\/em> having already paid the price for all<\/em> those sins. Do we trust Him enough to never go backward? Is it our responsibility to eliminate what sin we can from our lives?<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIf we say that we have no sin, we deceive\u00a0ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness\u201d (1 John 1:8-9).<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Finding Joy in Christ Jesus<\/span><\/h2>\n

Corrie Ten Boom\u2019s gratitude and joy is evident when she says,<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThank You, Lord Jesus, that You make sinners happy, that You deliver them. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is Satan who tries to convince us that God might leave us if we are too weak and dirty, but where in the scriptures does it ever say that? Instead, we see the testimony of so many when they experience rescue from their Savior. For example, Nephi says,<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAwake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. \u2026 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation\u201d (2 Nephi 4:28, 30<\/a>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Even Joseph Smith, who felt completely forsaken and helpless in Liberty Jail, worries what\u2019s to become of him and receives this amazingly comforting answer:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMy son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes\u201d (D&C 121:7-8<\/a>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As eternal sons and daughters of God, this message is for all of us and will never be retracted. We are loved and cherished but born on this earth to be tried and tested. Jesus Christ simply calls for us to come and find peace in Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever\u201d (D&C 122:9).<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The Desire to Surrender<\/span><\/h2>\n

When we surrender, we allow Jesus Christ to take over. He and the power of the Holy Ghost are our secret weapon to overcome the world, sin, fear, doubt, anxiety, pain, depression, addiction, and all the rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corrie Ten Boom shares another story about a rickety old bridge. The guide went out to investigate if the bridge was strong enough. It was and they safely crossed over to the other side. See, the bridge (Christ) will hold, but do we have the faith to get on the bridge? Or will we let our sin, fear, doubt, pain, etc., prevent us?<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Book of Mormon, Pahoran receives a very angry letter from Captain Moroni, but instead of retaliating with an even uglier letter he simply testifies to Moroni of the power available to them through Jesus Christ:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBut behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will deliver us. Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil. \u2026 Yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the Lord\u201d (Alma 61:13-14, 18).<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We know that faith and fear cannot dwell together. They are contrary to one another and we must choose which master to follow (see Galatians 5: 16-17<\/a> and Matt. 6:24<\/a>). Sometimes, we battle this choice over and over again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corrie Ten Boom urges us to pray when we are most unwilling, \u201cGod, help me to be willing to be made willing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Angels to Watch Over Us<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are times we just can\u2019t do it alone; we are overcome with sadness and weakness. But in addition to Jesus Christ never leaving us alone, He sends angels down to strengthen us. We may not see them, but that doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t there holding us up, crying with us, and rooting for us. Elder Holland reminds us of what angels are ready to do:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the course of life all of us spend time in \u201cdark and dreary\u201d places, wildernesses, circumstances of sorrow or fear or discouragement. \u2026 But I testify that angels are\u00a0still\u00a0sent to help\u00a0us \u2026 As Mormon said to his son, Moroni, \u2026 \u00a0it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men\u201d (\u201cThe Ministry of Angels,\u201d<\/a> Jeffrey R. Holland, Oct. 2008).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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There Are Just a Few Things We Need to Always Remember:<\/span><\/h2>\n