Make prayer a first resource, not a last resort.

-To Heal A Heart-

A few weeks ago, I moved away from home for the first time. I am on a big, new adventure and it's thrilling.

But I won't lie..I'm no good at goodbyes. Thinking about it now, why are they even called that? I have the hardest time leaving the people I love even if it's not permanent. I said goodbye to my very best friends, my sweet family, and the neighborhood and ward that I have grown up with. I was scared and uncomfortable and I felt so completely alone. I have felt what they mean by the phrase 'a broken heart'. It was physically painful. And for the first two and a half weeks away from home, I felt my heart break over and over again, despite my best efforts to put thoughts of home out of my mind. Or to distract myself. Or to communicate with family and friends to not feel so far away. My eyes were hardly dry the first few days after I left. And I didn't know what to do. I was reading my scriptures and saying my prayers, and doing all of those things that I have been taught since I was a little girl; and I do have faith in those small acts. But I still couldn't find relief from my aching heart.

One night I was talking to one of my very best friends from home and I couldn't contain it. I sobbed and sobbed until finally I choked out, "I want to go home." Knowing that I needed more help than he could give from so far away, my sweet friend gave me all he had to offer. He said, 

"You know that Jesus Christ has felt everything you're feeling, don't you?"

And instantly, my mind cleared and I longed to be on my knees expressing every feeling of the past weeks to my Heavenly Father, acknowledging that, yes, I do know His Son has felt it all. Because I felt the infinite power and peace in just that simple statement.

There is power beyond imagination in the Atonement -the suffering and death- of Jesus Christ. So much that even the mention of His name brought the immediate relief that I so badly needed. 

Too often, I have used this sincere, open and honest prayer as a last resort. I don't understand why. But I challenge you, if you ever do find yourself needing more than you have in you, to ask for the very real, sustaining power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

This is your reminder, just as my friend reminded me, that the Savior does know exactly how you feel. He knows perfectly. And if you don't know that, then test it out, ask sincerely in times of trouble, and in good times. Talk to Heavenly Father the way you would to a best friend. Because I promise that He listens better than the best. Don't try to do it alone. Heavenly Father and Jesus are eager to support the smallest bit of faith.

I know that the Atonement is REAL. I know that He suffered, He felt my pain and yours, and because of that, we don't have to. If we have the faith to ask. I know because I have fallen to my knees many times and asked for that power to be made known to me. And I have undeniably felt it. 

In the Atonement of Jesus Christ, there is great power.

Power to strengthen families.

Power to forgive.

Power to remove the sting of death.

Power to fill the void.

Power to calm every fear.

Power to dispel doubts.

Power to overcome temptation.

Power to love an enemy.

Power to comfort the lonely.

He has power to heal a heart.