Where I Am Supposed to Be

When I was thinking today about the different experiences that I have had when I have felt my Heavenly Father’s love and presence the most, I realized something very basic and predictable. I had those experiences when I was where I was supposed to be at that time, doing what I was supposed to be doing. I looked and looked for a quote about that in my notebook, but couldn’t find it. The quote talked about how our Father wants to bless us, but in order to receive those blessings we must be where are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to be doing.

Think about the times you personally have felt His love and those experiences where you have felt close to the Lord. Where were you and what were you doing?

I am sure that there are times when Heavenly Father has a message for us that He might deliver wherever we are, but usually we need to be trying to be close to Him. When I think of my experiences, one of them is when fasting and sitting in sacrament meeting, another while I was praying by my bed, and a few of them in the temple. None of them are visions or voices speaking to me. But they were strong and real and remain with me still.

To share one of those experiences, a few years ago, I went through a heavy trial that just about traumatized me. I was sleepless for going on 3 nights. I was lying in bed, wishing to sleep, but thoughts just kept going through my head. I decided that even though I had already said my prayer before going to bed and several prayers throughout the day, I would kneel again there at 3:00 am and pray for strength and sleep. For those 3 days, my body had been shaking non-stop and I could not make it stop. As I knelt there, pouring my heart out again to my Father, I suddenly felt as if a hand were on my back and immediately the shaking stopped. I felt that despite this trial, things would be okay. I would be okay.

I’m so grateful for those times that Heavenly Father has blessed me with peace and with the knowledge that He loves me.