Weeping.

The Old Guitarist, Pablo Picasso, 1903

Do you ever have days when you feel sad but your'e not sure why? That's how I've been feeling today.

So I decided to look up all the scriptures about weeping. And they are beautiful.

Sorrow is a part of life. Isaiah prophesied that even "ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly," and Jesus himself had cause to weep during his perfect lifetime. I think sorrow is a blessing though, because it teaches us so much. It forces us to be more humble, to rely on the Lord a little more. It helps us to see the world more clearly. It helps us to be more compassionate.

But the beautiful thing about the gospel is that it helps us learn how to move through the valley of sorrow and return to the sunlight.

God recognizes our trials, of course; He would never discount them. He weeps right alongside us. His heart aches whenever He sees that we are in pain.

And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept. -Moses 7:28

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. -John 14:18

Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love. -Richard G. Scott

And then, when we have worked through our pain and learned what He wanted us to learn, He makes our burdens light. He gives us the distance of time to show us what a blessing that pain really was. And we are better people for it.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. -Psalms 30:5

Then sing, beloved ones,

Reach o'er the summer sea.

Pour forth thy boundless love for us living!

Sweep into ev'ry soul,

Make music of our tears,

Turn all our songs to joy and thanksgiving!

- David Warner

I had some major disappointments in September. I auditioned for women's chorus and the folk dance team, only to be rejected by both of them. It was really hard at first. I had wanted to join those organizations to grow and to serve. Why didn't the Lord want me to do it there?

Because the experience taught me so much.

I learned how to serve people in my everyday life. I discovered new hobbies and made friends there. I learned how to accept God's will and make it my own. I learned how to honestly say, "come what may, and love it."

When my dad gave me a priesthood blessing before I went back to school, I was promised that I would have disappointment but would be able to turn around and use it to help others. I think that has been the biggest blessing of all - having a testimony of the marvelous adventures that come when we trust in the Lord. His plans have always been better than the ones I come up with. Yes, with this knowledge I have been able to serve much better than I would have in women's chorus or the folk dance team.

So to you who are struggling, don't be afraid to weep. It will purify your soul. It will open the gate for blessings you cannot imagine. And the Lord will not leave you comfortless.

(And watch this video. It is beautiful.)