Four months

There is a story in the Book of Mormon that has become especially meaningful to me.

It is about the Alma and his people who fled from King Noah into the wilderness. They chose to repent and be baptized and join the church of Christ. They believed in God and were trying to follow Him. 

They escaped from the persecutions of King Noah and established their own city. They were industrious, built buildings and tilled the ground. They lived in peace and kept the commandments of God.  

But out of nowhere, one day, very unexpectedly an army of Lamanites descended upon them. These Lamanites took possession of their city, persecuted Alma and his people, and condemned them to death for praying vocally.

Here the record states, 

12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

When this cancer experience first started I pleaded with Heavenly Father to take it away. To remove it. To make it disappear. We'd been trying to raise our family, be responsible, and keep the commandments. We were doing our best to live good lives. 

And then out of nowhere, one day, unexpectedly Jacob experienced the symptoms of a GBM. A type of cancer that makes cancer look bad. In one day our whole world turned upside down and for weeks upon weeks I felt oppressed and despondent. 

But as I look back over the last 4 months I must witness that the Lord God has visited us in this affliction. He has eased this burden upon our shoulders. He has given us strength. 

I know that God lives. He is our Heavenly Father and He loves us. He does have a plan for us and He will not abandon us in times of trial. I witness of His strength and His power to sustain us when we cannot do it on our own. I am grateful for Him and know that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

He is there for all of us in whatever our affliction, and He will give us strength to bear it.