Walk in the Savior’s Light
As you come unto Jesus Christ and repent, His healing and strengthening power will lead you out of darkness.
On one long flight I made as an airline captain, I would take off in Germany at 11:00 a.m. and touch down in California at 1:00 p.m. the same day. Comparing the departure and arrival times, it might appear that a flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the North American continent took only two hours.
The Boeing 747 was fast, but not that fast! In reality, the flight took about 11 hours, depending on wind, to travel 5,600 miles (9,000 km).
Because we were flying west, the sun never set during our flight. We enjoyed broad daylight all the way from Germany to California. Returning to Germany, however, was a totally different story. As we flew east, the sunset came more quickly than it normally would, and before we knew it, night was upon us.
Even while flying at night, in complete darkness, I knew with certainty that the sun remained constant, steadfast, and reliable. I knew that eventually the sun would rise, and bright light would return to bring warmth and life to a new day before our journey’s end.
Sometimes things around us can seem unstable, unpredictable, and dark. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ. He is the light and the life of the world. Because of Him, we have hope for the future, access to His divine light, and the promise of ultimate victory over sin and death.
The Savior’s Love and Power
Out of love for us, Jesus Christ gave His life for all of God’s children and opened the door to immortality and eternal life.
Despite what Satan would have you believe, you are not beyond the Savior’s ability to rescue you. You are never beyond being “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15).
This greatest of all gifts comes from the enabling and redeeming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and Golgotha, He knows how to help you through any and all of the challenges you face (see Alma 7:11–12).
Jesus Christ is your strength!
President Russell M. Nelson has said, “When the Savior [gave this atoning sacrifice] for all mankind, He opened a way that those who follow Him can have access to His healing, strengthening, and redeeming power.”
That power, like the sun, is always there. It never wavers. Following in the Savior’s footsteps is like walking out of the shadows and into the sunlight, where you can receive the blessings of God’s light, warmth, and love.
A Bright New Beginning
The Book of Mormon tells how the Nephites spent three days in the most profound darkness following the Savior’s Crucifixion. The physical darkness around them symbolized the spiritual darkness we experience because of sin. Then they heard the voice of Christ inviting them out of the darkness and into His light:
“Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13).
“Offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20).
“Repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart” (3 Nephi 10:6).
The Savior extends those same invitations to you when you find yourself lost in darkness. Just as each sunrise marks the beginning of a new day, each time you repent, you receive a fresh start, a bright new beginning.
Through your sincere repentance, Jesus Christ “will replace your guilt with peace and joy. He will remember your sins no more. In His strength, your desire to keep His commandments will increase.”
As soon as you take the first step to repent, the Savior will begin to “change your heart and your life. Little by little, you will grow and become more like Him” and He “will bring you greater access to His power.”
Find Lasting Healing
The Savior is the Master Healer. One of the most beautiful demonstrations of His healing power is found in His personal ministry in the Book of Mormon:
“Have ye any that are sick among you?” He asked. “Have ye any … that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you. …
“And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth … ; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him” (3 Nephi 17:7, 9).
Every time the Savior healed anyone, both before and after His Resurrection, He testified of His ultimate power to heal our souls. Each miraculous healing pointed to His promise of the lasting physical and emotional healing that will come to us in the Resurrection.
At times, your prayers for healing may not be answered in the way you hope, but they are never ignored. The time for healing will eventually come in Heavenly Father’s own way and time, just as the darkness of night always gives way to the glorious sunrise.
My dear friend, I testify that Jesus Christ is the Healer in this life and in eternity. His mercy is sufficient to heal your wounds, cleanse you of sin, strengthen you in trials, and bless you with hope, wisdom, and peace. His power is always there—constant and reliable—even when you, for a time, feel distant from His love, light, and warmth.
May you never lose your sense of awe and profound gratitude for all that Jesus Christ has done for you. Please know that you are loved perfectly. Remember what you have been promised eternally. And “may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son,” Jesus Christ (Alma 33:23).