The Final Hour

Have you ever noticed how blessings, miracles, and answers usually come in the last moment possible?  Remember that time where you needed to get out of the door for something that was really important but the keys were lost and you were frantically looking all over the place but you just couldn't find it anywhere so you said a quick, frantic prayer and just before you were going to be late you found the keys just in time?

I know the feeling.

This past week we were planning on meeting one of our investigators at the front of the store.  This was important because we were going to introduce him to the Elders.  It was a struggle just to get the appointment because it wasn't easy to get a hold of him over the phone, and he would frequently forget appointments that we set up.  But tonight was going to be different.  Tonight, things were going to finally work out!

We met up with the Elders at the specified time and waited.....and called....and waited some more....the sun was going down, it was getting darker.  We kept calling, hoping that he would answer his phone, but still there was no response.  Twenty minutes after the scheduled meet up time the Elders looked at their watches.  It was time for them to bike home.  We looked at each other with a small amount of discouragement.  Another appointment had fallen through.

As we waved the Elders good bye, we got back into the car.  What else could we do?  We'd just keep calling and try to keep setting up appointments, but before we threw in the towel we decided to pray.  After the "amen" I looked up, half expecting to see our investigator pulling into the parking lot right then and there.

He didn't.

With a sigh and a check of the time, we decided to call him one last time.  To our

great surprise, he answered the phone after a couple of rings!  Work had held him later than he expected, but he was on his way!  With great excitement we called back the Elders.  "We got a hold of him!" We explained, "come back!"  The Elders were almost to their home by the time we called them, but they agreed to bike back.

We got out of the car and anxiously awaited the arrival of our investigator.  Ten minutes passed and the Elders showed up.  Ten more minutes passed and the Elder's asked us if we were pranking them: he still hadn't shown up.  We resumed our anxious phone calls.  Time was running out, we had a curfew to keep.

I'll admit, at this point my faith wavered.  He hadn't shown up before.  He wouldn't show up now.  He wouldn't answer his phone.  I felt bad for the Elders, knowing that they had biked that far only to have a no-show.  Sister Wright looked me in the eye and said strongly, "he will come.  You have to believe he will come."

Still I doubted.

It was 8:50.  Almost time to go home.  We had waited nearly an hour for this appointment.  Sister Wright was keeping her positive attitude.  I thought to myself, "do I believe?  Do I believe that Heavenly Father could help him come?"  Memories came to my mind of other times that blessings had come.  When did they come?  In the very last moment possible.

I relaxed.  This was just a trial of our patience and diligence.  Sister Wright was right: he would come.  It just would be at the last moment.  As I put my trust in Christ my worry and anxiety melted away.  A few more minutes passed and there he was; riding onhis bicycle, our investigator entered the parking lot.  We were then able to have a good lesson with the Elders.  A miracle indeed.

The question may come of why?  Why did we have to wait nearly an hour to have a lesson with him?  Why do we have to wait so long to receive much needed blessings?  So much pain and anxiety and suffering could be eased if he had just arrived at the appointed time: 8 o'clock. 

I think there are multiple blessings that come from this trial.  One, we learned patience.  We can't get everything we want right when we want it.  Like waiting for traffic to become less crowded or waiting for a red light when you're in a hurry, it takes patience to not get angry or frustrated at the situation. 

Along with that, we learned trust in the Lord's timing, not our own.  He knew that our investigator would come, we needed to trust Him that he would.  We need to put our trust in Christ that he will take care of us and that blessings will come.  He knows what we need.  As it says in 3 Nephi 13:32-33 "For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."  We have to trust that this promise is true.

We also learned diligence.  We couldn't give up when our efforts seemed to be fruitless, we had to keep going and endure to the end.  Sometimes we're not going to get something right on the first try.  Sometimes things just won't be obvious and completely understandable in the first moment.  The key is to not let it get you down and discouraged but to keep going until things fall into place.

This lesson seems to be a repeat lesson.  Have you noticed that?  Whether it's a paycheck that hasn't come in yet, waiting for a job offer, or news in the hospital, we have to go through situations that are full of anxiety, stress, and lots of time.  What should we do in those situations?  As hard as it is, we are to relax and learn to let the Lord handle it.  Keep working, of course, keep doing our best to move forward, but build our faith in Christ.

He will take care of us as we strive to do our best.  If you're going through a rough point in your life where you don't know what to do, remember who is in charge.  His blessings usually come in the final hour.  Continue to pray, continue to work, and above all continue to trust in His plan.  :) Things will work out.  Let me know if there's a way I can help.  <3