How Blessed Are We! *




I've always been able to relate to Alma the Younger, Sons of Mosiah, and their story of repentance, because my addiction has made me feel like one of the "vilest of sinners" at times. And I've also felt Christ's love and grace as I've repented day by day.

After their experience with the angel and their repentance, it says in Mosiah 27:32 that Alma (and the Sons of Mosiah - see vs. 34) went "traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen" -(like recovering addicts who reach out to one another!)

What I really think notable is what comes next:

"...preaching the word of God in much tribulation...33 But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God."

Just when they started doing everything right, helping others, and working to undo their past ways, doing a complete 180-degree turn-around, things got harder for them! They were persecuted for what they did, among other tribulations.

I remember this as an observation that is sometimes shared in ARP meetings, that when we are pulling out of our addiction, changing our lives for the better, everything seems to just get even harder, maybe even crippling.  This is because, we are leaving behind a past emotional escape and allowing real emotions to surface again. So even as we do the right things, life seems to get harder.

But it's WORTH IT!

"36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of truth, yea, to a knowledge of their Redeemer.

37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace, they did publish good tidings of the good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth."

"How blessed are they!" I want to bear my testimony that I know we (sons of God in recovery from addiction) are also blessed for choosing the right, even when it seems like there is so much pushing us to turn around, back to where we came from.

Hard things are a sign of greatness in the making. Taking the easier path is what led many of us to our addictions and all the anguish, sadness, guilt, self-hatred, misery, and despair that followed.

Happiness is not found in the absence of opposition, it is found in living the commandments.

How blessed are we!

* This post was written by my good friend Jason, who is a great example of humility and dedication.

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