Firm Foundation

I've been thinking a lot these past few days. Knowing that General Conference was coming up sent me back to the Conference six months ago. I was not able to watch a lot of that Conference, as I spent most of it in the hospital "taking care of" my dad. I put it in quotes because there isn't much you can do when your loved one is in ICU and has their own nurse. He even had a nurse just for his leg for a while there. I was there in case he needed family and because no other family was available (my mom was really sick). I wrote about this before.

Aside from memories of six months ago, I have also had baby on the brain for various reasons. (Note: I am not currently pregnant, nor do I have any plans to become so in the next while. Clear? Okay, let's continue.) There were so many little experiences I had while pregnant with my daughter that affirmed my faith. I am so grateful for these experiences and for the lessons they taught me.

What do the two have to do with each other? Without going into lengthy detail, I can say that they helped me to know where I lean when life throws me storms I don't know how to deal with. It was while I was pregnant with my daughter that the hymn How Firm a Foundation became special to me. I used to think that it just talked about Christ being the center of the gospel. I had not really paid attention the words before. On a particularly low and frightening day the song came on at the store and I realized it is a song of great comfort. If you have the time, I highly suggest reading the lyrics to all the verses, but I will quote the parts that were so significant to me.

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health, In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—As thy days may demand so thy succor shall be.
3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.
7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

I know that when I pass through trials and struggles that seem too much for me to bear there is a strength and a power beyond my own to hold me up. The Lord keeps his promises to us; He gives us the help and comfort we need for exactly our circumstance; He will hold us up when our own strength fails us or when our grief is so strong it hurts to breathe. Knowing these things, it is impossible for me to abandon Him or deny that it is through His power that I make it through every day. When I am tempted to be angry at whatever I am called to pass through I remember the tender mercies given to me and feel the strength of the One there to carry me through it all.