Finding Refuge from the Storms of Life - Part One

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. What ways do you think it means finding refuge from the storms of life?

This post is part one. This post focuses on a April 2020 General Conference talk and it is called "Finding Refuge from the Storms of Life" by Elder Ricardo P. Giménez. 

Elder Giménez has mentioned the following: 

"Back in the mid-’90s, during my college years, I was part of the Fourth Company of the Santiago Fire Department in Chile. While serving there, I lived at the fire station as part of the night guard. Toward the end of the year, I was told that I had to be at the fire station on New Year’s Eve because on that day there was almost always some emergency. 

Surprised, I replied, “Really?” Well, I remember waiting with my associates when, at midnight, fireworks began shooting off in downtown Santiago. We started hugging each other with well wishes for the new year. Suddenly the bells at the fire station began ringing, indicating that there was an emergency. 

"Jesus Christ and His Atonement are the refuge that we 
all need, regardless of the storms that are battering
our lives." 

We got our equipment and jumped on the fire engine. On our way to the emergency, as we passed crowds of people celebrating the new year, I noticed that they were largely unconcerned and carefree. They were relaxed and enjoying the warm summer night. 

Yet somewhere nearby, the people we were hurrying to help were in serious trouble. This experience helped me realize that although our lives may at times be relatively smooth, the time will come for each of us when we will face unexpected challenges and storms that will push the limits of our ability to endure. 

Physical, mental, family, and employment challenges; natural disasters; and other matters of life or death are but some of the examples of the storms that we will face in this life. When faced with these storms, we often experience feelings of despair or fear. 

.. As I have seen the storms that affect people’s lives, I have concluded that no matter what kind of storm is battering us regardless of whether there is a solution to it or whether there is an end in sight there is only one refuge, and it is the same for all types of storms. This single refuge provided by our Heavenly Father is our Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement. 

None of us are exempt from facing these storms. ...  Elder Robert D. Hales, who had his own experiences with enduring storms, said: “Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual. Suffering can take us one of two ways. It can be a strengthening and purifying experience combined with faith, or it can be a destructive force in our lives if we do not have the faith in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice” (“Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned to Joy,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, 66)."

Stay Tuned until next time.