God’s Sufficient Grace

“… wherefore lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all ye may be able to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.” – Section 26:3d-g

We live in the evil day spoken of in Section 26 and it is difficult at times to not be troubled and discouraged. But the message from the Lord is clear, despite the circumstances of our day we are to lift up our hearts and rejoice and gird ourselves with his armor. If we do so the promise is sure, we will be able to withstand whatever comes. He graciously supplies exactly what is necessary. Though we may feel weak, His grace is sufficient.

“I give unto men weakness, that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak thing become strong unto them.” – Ether 5:28

But too often we forget to put on his armor, we endeavor to face life with our own strength and forget the wonderful helps and governments that he has woven into the fabric of his church; worship, ordinance, fellowship among believers, a rich and full canon of scripture found in the Inspired Version, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. These plus the daily spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and study are all there to help us withstand the evil day.

If we are to abide the day, our church life needs to be much more than a hobby that we enjoy from time to time. It needs to be the central focus of our lives. Yes, God’s grace is more than sufficient for our every need, but we must gird our loins, put on the breastplate, shod our feet, pick up our shield, put on our helmets and grasp our swords. Is our relationship with Him deep and trusting enough to draw us to Him during times of difficulty? Are we content to endure weaknesses, insults, distresses, and persecutions for Christ’s sake so that we can be spiritually strong even amid physical and emotional weakness? We must:

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, put on each piece with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Though it is an evil day it is not a day to be troubled or discouraged. God will provide. The foe will be vanquished. The kingdom will come. Take strength in these words of Joseph the Martyr:

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”