I Will Give You Rest

Do you remember when your faith and joy were full to the brim? If that time seems lost, it can be found again.

Elder Timothy J. Dyches gave a powerful talk on the power of the Atonement to make us whole. One of the things that really stood out to me was not just the Savior's ability to heal us from the damage of sin, but to heal our hearts from the other heartbreaks that go along with this life.

If you feel unclean, unloved, unhappy, unworthy, or unwhole, remember “all that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”¹ Have faith and patience in the Savior’s timing and purposes for you. “Be not afraid, only believe”².

So what can I do to let the Atonement work in my life to bring me happiness? Will God really take away my trails and hardships if I ask him to? Is it that easy?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.³

Wait a minute! Didn't Christ take upon himself pains and afflictions of every kind?⁴ Is that really the yoke that I want to take upon myself?

When Christ offers to let us take His yoke upon us, I don't believe that He is requiring that we drink from the bitter cup from which He drank.⁵ Instead, I think that it is an invitation to yoke ourselves up with Him, and let Him carry our load with us.

As we draw near to Him, we realize that mortality is meant to be difficult and that “opposition in all things”⁶ is not a flaw in the plan of salvation. Opposition, rather, is the indispensable element of mortality and strengthens our will and refines our choices. The vicissitudes of life help us fashion an eternal relationship with God—and engrave His image upon our countenance as we yield our hearts to Him.⁷

God knows that life is difficult, but he does not intend for us to bear our burdens alone. When we have faith that He is in control, the pain of mortality seems less acute, and the burdens on our shoulders seem light.⁸ If this seems too good to be true, I testify that it is not. I have been at the point where I felt like the burden was too great. Thanks to the wisdom of family and friends who pointed me to the Savior, I was able to catch hold of a glimmer of hope in Christ. Over time, that hope has turned into a testimony that no matter what life brings, He is willing to make my burden light.

Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.⁹

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<sup>1. Preach My Gospel, page 52
2. Mark 5:36
3. Matthew 11:28–30
4. Alma 7:11
5. D&C 19:15-19
6. 2 Nephi 2:11
7. Alma 5:19
8. Mosiah 24:14-15
9. D&C 88:68</sup>