I was asked to give a spiritual message for the beginning of the activity on Friday night. Being from Richland, Washington and Amarillo, Texas--I don't think I have ever prayed for wind--but I loved this story by Elder John Groberg and it fit perfectly with our Aloha theme and the scripture I was given- Philippians 4:13. I had to shorten this beautiful story which Elder Groberg gave in a conference address in October of 1993. I encourage you to look it up and read the story within this conference address. He is a story teller and the words he uses are perfect. (Some of his experiences were shared in the movie, "The Other Side of Heaven.") Reading the story took about 10 minutes and I only had 4 or 5.....so I had to adjust.
Praying For Wind
The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13)
Elder John Groberg in a 1993 Conference address stated: “It takes deep and abiding faith in Christ to
endure faithfully to the end of our mortal lives. Sometimes we pray for the
strength to endure yet resist the very things that would give us that strength.
Too often we seek the easy way, forgetting that strength comes from overcoming
things that require us to put forth more effort than we normally would be
inclined to do.”
I know that I can be guilty of that—hoping for the easy way to the
end of a particular trial. Elder
Groberg goes on to share a story about an experience he had as a young
missionary in Tonga. In the interest of
time, I will retell parts and share excepts from the story—
Elder Groberg served in Tonga in the 1950s. He was assigned to a
group of 17 islands and the only transportation between them was by
sailboat. There was a family on another
island who wanted to hear the gospel and he was told to meet them at sunset in a particular harbor
on another island the next day. He
didn’t have a companion but found 4 older members and experienced sailors who
said they would sail him to the agreed spot the next day.
They left the next morning and made good time toward the
neighboring island until about mid-day when the wind died down and then
stopped.
Time passed. The five of
them prayed for more wind. Three
different times in three different patterns they prayed together and
individually for the wind to return.
Elder Groberg said that he couldn’t believe that the Lord didn’t send
them wind so they could make it to the appointment.
Elder Groberg said “As
I was so wondering, I noticed this faithful older brother move to the rear of
the boat. I watched as he unlashed the tiny lifeboat, placed two oars with pins
in their places, and carefully lowered it over the side.
He looked at me and
softly said, “Get in.”
I answered, “What are
you doing? There is hardly room for two people in that tiny thing!”
“Don’t waste any time
or effort. Just get in. I am going to row you to shore, and we need to leave
now to make it by sundown.”
….., “Row me where?”
“To the family that
wants to hear the gospel. We have an assignment from the Lord. Get in.”
I was dumbfounded. It
was miles to shore. The sun was hot, and this man was old. But as I looked into
the face of that faithful brother, I sensed an intensity in his gaze, an iron
will in his very being, and a fixed determination in his voice as he said, “Before
the sun sets this day, you will be teaching the gospel and bearing testimony to
a family who wants to listen.”
Over Elder Groberg’s
objections, they got in this small lifeboat and the old man began rowing and
working and rowing….
Elder Groberg continues:
“The old man concentrated his efforts and energy on fulfilling the calling he
had from the Lord—to get a missionary to a family that wanted to hear the
gospel. He was the Lord’s wind that day.” And they made it and a family was
waiting to be taught….
“I waded ashore, met the family….. and taught them the gospel. As
I bore testimony of the power of God in this church, my mind saw an old Tongan
man rowing to a distant harbor and waiting patiently there. I testified with a
fervor as great as any I have ever felt that God does give power to men
and women to do His will if they will have faith in Him. When our hearts are
determined to do right, the Lord gives us the power to do so.”
The family believed
and eventually was baptized.”
In the annals of history,
few will be aware of this small incident. Hardly anyone will know about this
insignificant island, the family who waited, or the obscure, old man who never
once complained…. He referred only to the privilege of being God’s agent in
bringing a missionary to teach the truth to those who desired to hear. But God
knows! He gave him the strength to be His wind that day, and He will give us
the strength to be His wind when necessary.
How often do we not do
more because we pray for wind and none comes? We pray for good things and they
don’t seem to happen, so we sit and wait and do no more. We should always pray
for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impressions to
proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of. On the boat, five
men prayed, but only one heard and acted. God does hear our prayers. God knows
more than we do…We should never stop moving because we think our way is barred…...”
Elder Groberg said
that he would never forget that old man.
I hope we don’t either. I hope
his example will remind us that God hears our prayers but sometimes he doesn’t
send wind we prayed for—He puts us in a rowboat rowing for hours in the
heat….but He will always be there to strengthen us to accomplish His purposes
and the righteous desires of our hearts as we pray AND act in faith in Jesus
Christ..
No comments:
Post a Comment