06/15/2020
What do we do when the pain becomes too much? What do we do when our strength fails?
While watching the horrific massacre of the believers, unable to save them by divine means, Amulek says to Alma, “Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.”
Alma’s response? “Be it according to the will of the Lord.” (Alma 14:13)
Alma is so confident, so aligned with the will of God, that he is ready to die for his faith.
He and Amulek are not killed; they are tortured instead. Tossed in prison and subjected to cruelty and deprivation and suffer in darkness.
In stark contrast to his previous confidence, Alma finally cries, “How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord?” (v. 26)
I imagine this coming out as a sob; a desperate cry from a man stretched too far.
What happened to Alma’s confidence,
His fearlessness he had in the beginning?
Why now is he begging for release when before he was willing to die?
Do you recognize this pattern? I do—my life is filled with it. It is easy to proclaim confidence in the Lord during the onset of a trial, but more challenging as that trial continues.
I boldly sing my faith as I watch the sun set over the mountaintop,
but as the darkness stretches on, my song grows sour.
Part of Alma’s story is missing from this post, however. Even before Alma’s desperate cry, “the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek.” (v. 25)
They rose, and they were delivered.
The power of God descended upon them in the moment of greatest darkness.
Their continued faith in prison preceded deliverance, preceded miracles.
This is where Christ’s atonement was meant to work.
In the suffering,
In darkness,
In the desperate moments of our lives.
It is designed to brighten the darkness.
Remember, “Grace is not the light at the end of the tunnel, it is the light that gets you through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road, it is received right here, right now.” (Brad Wilcox)
Be faithful and when it is all too much, cry to Him for deliverance in faith.
He will answer.
He will save you.
He did for Alma and Amulek
He has for me.
——
Guest post by Chris Keenan
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