When I reflect upon Easter and the life-saving holiday that it is, I can't help but think about the hours our Savior spent in the Garden of Gethsemane and the pain that He suffered for all human kind. Isaiah speaks of the Savior's mission saying ". . .he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." (Isaiah 61:1) The time He spent in Gethsemane and the unfathomable pain He suffered is a fulfillment of this mission that Isaiah prophesies of.
Both professionally as a marriage and family therapist and through my own personal situations, I have witnessed and experienced being brokenhearted and being bound in a personal prison of mental illness. Whether it be episodes of depression or anxiety or other chronic, serious mental illness, the internal, often times silent suffering of the human soul can be a heavy cross for many people to bear.
Through my own personal journey of depression and anxiety, I've spent countless moments on my knees pleading for strength, for a reprieve, for my burden to be lifted. Sometimes I felt immediate relief as if He was right there beside me and took the burden from me and other times the relief was not there but I was blessed with the strength (ie, therapy, medication, friends, family, etc. . .) to get through another day of suffering.
In my darkest moments I have felt forsaken, trapped and alone. In those desperate moments, I have always had a reminder that ". . he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things. . ." (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6.) His suffering in Gethsemane and His eventual and ultimate sacrifice of His life was not just to pay the price for our sins but to also suffer all that we suffer, endure all that we endure so that He can provide for us an infinite atonement. He does comprehend all things; all that we experience He has experienced so that He truly KNOWS us and can atone for us.
What a message of hope this Easter season brings! I have hope and a knowledge that even if the pain and anguish of the human soul cannot always be taken away it will always be understood. While He was deserted by His disciples in that sacred garden, He will never desert us and will always succor us in our infirmities. What joy it brings to my soul to celebrate His life and honor His sacrifice during this Easter season.
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Thanks to my dear, dear friend Kelly for this beautiful post!
If you like this post and would like to read more on this subject on my blog,
please comment and/or "like this post" to let me know!
For further awesome reading on this topic review Elder Richard's talk from conference.
Kelly actually sent me this post before Conference weekend, but the two talks are so similar!
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If you like this post and would like to read more on this subject on my blog,
please comment and/or "like this post" to let me know!
For further awesome reading on this topic review Elder Richard's talk from conference.
Kelly actually sent me this post before Conference weekend, but the two talks are so similar!
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Click here to enter the Bunny Purse Giveaway!!
I have always loved the picture...and can hear the Savoir say...how oft would I have gathered you but you would not. and He is just waiting for us to come to Him to be bound up and bound in, being healed of so many things. thanx...lovely thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly. I really appreciate this post. I especially like what you said about our struggles: "The pain and anguish of the human soul cannot always be taken away [but] it will always be understood." It's a comfort to me to know that there are others who have pain that has not been taken away. (I thought there must be something wrong with me!) You've also given me something new to think about: at least my pain is understood. Thank you.
ReplyDeletethis is a very touching story.
ReplyDeleteI've tried writing on the same subject, unsuccessfully. Wonderfully shared, Kelly. Thank you! It is uplifting to know that there are others who understand some of the deep struggles I've experienced; Jesus being at the top of that list because he understands it all! And I love that you call Easter a "life saving holiday." I'm going to start using that:)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Elder Richard's talk was one of my favorites!
I especially like this, because it's so real:
ReplyDelete"I have hope and a knowledge that even if the pain and anguish of the human soul cannot always be taken away it will always be understood."
Sometimes this hope and knowledge is the only comfort available, but even in the worst of times, being understood is the most healing thing of all.
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Beautifully written, and beautiful thoughts. His grace is so amazing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful description of a struggle that many of us face every day. Thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteso true, it helps to hear of others struggles and the comfort the Savior and the Spirit can bring...
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely post today; filled with testimony. I have a daugher who suffers from depression and I will send this to her; and hope she will work on not only drawing close to the Savior but finding other answers as to why she struggles.
ReplyDeleteThis was a comforting message.
Blessings to you! LeAnn
Thanks for sharing. I often need to be reminded that there is One who can understand and help me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely testimony of the atonement. It strengthened my own. You have such a wonderful way of expressing yourself, Kelly! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing, your testimony strengthens mine. Beautiful message, Beautiful blog. I will link up and share it on my blog.
ReplyDelete