Consider the Lilies

“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you…” Luke 12:27-28

As I have contemplated the needs of this new ward, I read the preceding verse and had an epiphany. Christ is offering, here, the only sure way each of us can overcome those horrible feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem that tend to inflict each of us.

Many years ago, I took my Priest Quorum on a hike up Mt. Timpanogos. They wanted to hike at 10:00 p.m. to summit before sunset. As we neared the meadow created by a natural bowl in the rock formation, we paused from our hike to rest.

It was a dark, moonless night so we had no idea what the terrain looked like as we all laid down to sleep for a few minutes. It wasn’t until our descent from the summit, when the sun had replaced the moon, that we were all overawed by the beauty of this small mountain meadow.

The wild flowers were an bloom and presented a majestic rainbow of colors. To this day, that beautiful image millions of mountain flowers is imbedded in my mind.

Yet, as gorgeous as that scene was, in a matter of days it was gone. The flowers would either die in the sun or give way to the snow. It was a transient, temporary beauty.

Now ask yourself, if God is so willing to create a meadow with such stunning but temporary beauty, only to let its slip away in the rapid passage of time, how much more effort does God put into you?

Each of us is of infinite worth to the Father. He loves and cares for us far more than He does His beautiful mountain meadows. If we could but catch a glimpse of how God views us, we would rarely, if ever, question our own self-worth.

God is doing all He can to bring you back to Him. He is fighting your fights. He is lifting up your arms that hang low. He is strengthening your feeble knees. He sends legions of angels to watch and care for you. Why?

Because you are His child and He loves you.

So, when those moments of despair come, and the will. When you feel unloved or unlovable, and you will. Consider the lilies. “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you…”