The World Is A Hard Place

This week we have been meeting with our local ward Young Women presidencies.  We have been doing this to have an opportunity to do some leadership training as well as some more intimate visiting about how we can help them fulfill  their callings better.

One night, however, we met with one ward and in the course of the evening learned there are some of our Young Women that are dealing directly with hard things, worldly issues that can damage their spirits and even issues that leave them in physical danger.  It was difficult to listen to these good women tell us their worries about the YW in their care.  But as difficult as it was to listen, I was so grateful they shared their concerns.  We worry about these girls too, but they have more regular contact with them and can have a more direct impact for their well being and spiritual good.

I don't want to write much more about specifics of this part of the evening, but I felt the heaviness of their reporting.  These leaders have had this on their hearts for a while--and even longer without knowing just what the matter was, but knowing something was not as it should be.  God knows these girls and was prompting their good leaders to watch them more carefully, with an open heart and the Spirit prepared a way for the leaders to understand more what these girls are going through, so they can help them through it.  Not only that, but these particular leaders have had their own experiences with similar things as they grew up that has given them strong sympathy and understanding for their young women.

The Lord knows each of us.  He will put others in our lives to help us learn what we must and get through the things we will face.  That doesn't always make those things easier, but knowing you aren't along in it is better than the alternative.  It was made plainly obvious to me last night that as leaders we may have had experiences in our lives simply to give us the basis to help others.

I also know that the world is becoming a more wicked place.  Much of what these young women are having to deal with is not of their own making. They are facing the consequences based on other people's choices.  In some cases, the world's influence and Satan's tactics have caused these girls' heartbreak without them making a bad choice.  That is what is so hard to see.  And it is becoming all too common to hear or see things where innocents suffer from decisions made by someone who doesn't seen to have any consequence at all.

My heart left this particular meeting very heavy.  My prayers since have been very specific and more sincere than they have been for a while.  And my gratitude has increased when I see the goodness around me in my family, friends, volunteer work and within the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that it is through the Lord, Jesus Christ, that all hurt and sorrow and suffering can be handled.  In fact, it can be handed over to Him, and He will take it from us and strengthen us to get through it.  Boy, we all need a little more of that around here.