“...be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
On a regular basis I look back and see things in my daily actions that I might have done better, where I have not been thoughtful of another, or I haven’t worked as hard as I could have, didn’t prepare for a meeting, was selfish in some way, thought unkindly of another, said things that didn’t need to be said, or just wasn’t perceptive enough (perhaps because I hadn’t paid the price to understand). While I may term these actions and behaviors mistakes, shortcomings, failings, or sins, the result is generally the same – I feel regret about bad things that happen or good things that will not be.
On a regular basis I look back and see things in my daily actions that I might have done better, where I have not been thoughtful of another, or I haven’t worked as hard as I could have, didn’t prepare for a meeting, was selfish in some way, thought unkindly of another, said things that didn’t need to be said, or just wasn’t perceptive enough (perhaps because I hadn’t paid the price to understand). While I may term these actions and behaviors mistakes, shortcomings, failings, or sins, the result is generally the same – I feel regret about bad things that happen or good things that will not be.
When I look to the Savior and seek for healing and forgiveness,
I hope for relief from pain and regret – both the resolution of the
consequences, as well as comfort to my soul. He can provide that relief by
sending the Holy Ghost to speak peace to my soul, by blessing others and
recovering that which has been lost to them, by strengthening me to do
better, and sometimes by giving me both opportunity and capacity to restore what
was damaged.
The key to activating his invitation to “be of good
cheer” is to ask in faith – with intent to act in response to promptings. Even
when deeply discouraged, when I ask in faith, with no more than a desire to act
better, he can work with my request and my desire and move me in the direction
of hope and action.
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