Currently I am writing from the clinic where I just got my wisdom teeth removed. In this state of pain and reflecting on the last six months, with COVID-19, the news, a new job, heartbreak, disappointment, an earthquake, and some disastrous winds that caused a power outage, it often feels like there is too much chaos. Today I just want to focus on the comforting scriptures the Lord has provided us with. God is “the God of all comfort” and He will comfort us in our tribulation. “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Jesus Christ is ultimately the best way to receive comfort. Whether it is through the Holy Ghost, directly through Christ, or even through the love of a friend. There is, however, a responsibility on us. Christ gave us a commandment that we must not let our hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid (John 14:27) and we must bear with patience our afflictions (Alma 26:27). Jesus Christ will help us to do both of those. There are two things I find the most comforting when I am overwhelmed. The first is that when we, like Martha, are careful and troubled about many things, we can remember that “one thing is needful” (Luke 10:41-42). That is, our relationship with Jesus Christ. The other thing is the fact that our troubles and afflictions will be “lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3). I take this to mean that eventually the day will come that our trials will become sweet to us. That is what Christ does, he turns the water into wine, the frustrating to peaceful, the captive to free, the bitter to sweet. John 17:3 says “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”. And the Guide to the Scriptures says (with reference to 2 Ne. 33:4 and 3 Ne. 15:9) “To believe in Christ and endure to the end is life eternal”. What I get from this is that we can taste of the sweetness of eternal life now! Today! We do not have to wait until after we are dead to partake of this fruit of eternal life. In fact, the more time and effort we each put into our own “tree of life”, our testimony of Jesus Christ, then the more fruit the tree should bare. We can and should partake of the fruit of our testimony everyday.

I will end by emphasizing that God wants us to be very personal in our prayers and he wants to hear from every one of us every day. God already knows the things that trouble your heart and He wants you to ask for help. One of my favorite scriptures states, “cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 37:36-37). Turning to God through Jesus Christ is always the right answer, especially for comfort. Jesus Christ truly is the master healer. So whether it is COVID-19, the news, a new job, heartbreak, disappointment, an earthquake, and some disastrous winds, remember that Christ has said “I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24: 12-17).

Here is a list of scriptures that bring me comfort besides the ones previously mentioned:

• Isaiah 41:10-13
• Isaiah 43:1-5
• Numbers 23:19
• Revelation 21:4-5
• Romans 8:18-19
• 1 Nephi 21:4-5, 13-16, 25
• 1 Nephi 22:17
• 2 Nephi 8:3-8, 11-15, 22
• 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
• 2 Nephi 9:18-19
• 2 Nephi 26:24-25
• 2 Nephi 27:21
• Jacob 3:1-2
• Mosiah 7:18