Cast not away therefore your confidence

Several years ago, a friend sent me this quote and it has stuck with me ever since:

"Beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now."

The quote comes from a devotional address by Elder Holland entitled "Cast Now Away Therefore Your Confidence". For some reason, it never occurred to me to read the full address until recently. I highly recommend it for anyone, especially those preparing to take a leap of faith.

Elder Holland discusses the opposition faced after revelation is received and specifically addresses the teaching process that missionaries go through with their new contacts. He likens it to the experience of Paul pleading with the new members of the church in his letter to the Hebrews.:

"Paul says to those who thought a new testimony, a personal conversion, a spiritual baptismal experience would put them beyond trouble—to these he says, 'Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.' Then this tremendous counsel, which is at the heart of my counsel to you: 'Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.'

I suppose every returned missionary and probably every convert reading these words knows exactly what I am talking about. Appointments for discussions canceled, the Book of Mormon in a plastic bag hanging from a front doorknob, baptismal dates not met. And so it goes through the teaching period, through the commitments and the baptism, through the first weeks and months in the Church, and more or less forever—at least, the adversary would pursue it forever if he thought he could see any weakening of your resolve, any chink in your armor."

For those of you supporting missionaries, I commend you. What a sacrifice for a family to make. In our culture it seems to be assumed that families will do this without a second thought, but it seems that the Lord is aware of our individual sacrifices and the struggle that this can be for families. Elder Holland offers these words that can bring comfort in any stage of life:

"With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."

~Kelcie