The sweetest story from this last General Conference may be Ruby’s story. Didn’t you love Ruby’s tender faith and courage? In the middle of a scary experience, she chose to believe Jesus Christ would be with her.

“I know that Jesus will hold my hand.”

I love how this response came after she saw a drawing of a “child’s hand warmly holding the hand of the Savior.” That drawing wasn’t of an unknown child. Ruby saw herself in the picture.

This story reminded me of a painting by Yongsung Kim. The Hand of God captures Peter’s perspective of being saved by Jesus Christ. As Peter sank deeper into stormy waters, the Savior reached out to rescue him. 

Can you imagine yourself in these stories in place of Ruby and Peter?

Elder Douglas reminds us that the safest place during a “spiritual hurricane” is to be “anchored on Christ.” Storms in life never come when you want or how you expect, but isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus Christ knows your storm?

There may be reasons He’s not calming the storm around you. Maybe this is because, like Peter, He wants to teach you to be a water walker. To hear Him speak to the sea and see unexpected miracles. To experience the thrill of overcoming with Him!

“Our belief and obedience link us to power beyond our own to overcome ‘[whatever] is happening—or not happening—in our lives.’”

Jesus Christ knows about the storms within you and around you. That’s because He intimately knows you! For you are “graven … upon the palms of [His] hands.” His scars are an eternal reminder of you and everything you experience.

Maybe this is a reminder that you don’t have to search for the hand of the Lord because you’ve never left the palms of His hands.

And those same loving hands know how to rescue you when you’re drowning in questions.

How to support you in uncertainty.

How to pull you up when you’re sinking deeper into despair.

How to help you take a step into the unknown.

How to help you believe again.

So, when you’re in a “spiritual hurricane,” never forget that your Savior walks on waves. He will never let go of your hand as you walk together upon the sea.

Read the full talk by Elder Sean Douglas here!

AFFIRMATION

I face my spiritual hurricanes with faith  and confidence when I choose to believe in Christ. He will not forsake me, for I am graven upon His hands.

INVITATION

If you find yourself in the midst of a spiritual hurricane, it can be hard to swing from the feeling of drowning to complete faith in Christ. His hand can often seem just out of reach when it seems we are scrambling to do all that we can.