The Power of a Testimony

Have you ever had a day when life just seemed too hard? You wake up and just wish you could just go back into the nice dream you were having. Before you even get out of bed, you are bombarded by the worries of the day like work, school, kids or any number of other things. And all you really want to do is settle down with a good book or some other distraction.

The other day I woke up feeling just like this. Lazy and listless, I slowly pulled myself out of bed. I went about my morning routine without much enthusiasm. Afterward, as I sat down to write, I determined that I needed some inspiration. I thought I would look through some of my past writings and stumbled across this piece. It was just the jolt that I needed to move my mind from my own troubles:

It was a fast and testimony meeting. This is a church meeting within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that takes place on the first Sunday of every month. Members are asked to fast for two meals and come to church prepared to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ and other various aspects of the gospel.

The last speaker to come up was an older black man dressed in an old sweatshirt, dingy jeans and a leather jacket that had seen better days. He arrived on the stand with the air of a man who did not care what others thought of him. He started his talk by saying he had not long ago been released from prison and how he felt so far away from the Lord there. He spoke about being “...in the dark place, the belly of the whale or whatever it is for you. I was there.” While he was incarcerated, he had longed to be able to go to a church meeting but could not. After he was released, he “bought an old sleeping bag from the DI” and slept in the cold outside of a restaurant. Laying on the cold ground in the 15º F (-9º C) weather he pleaded with God. He poured out his soul to his Heavenly Father asking for help and forgiveness. The voice of the spirit came to him and said, “A bishop (1) will come to you.” It wasn’t long after that that our bishop found the man and offered him help.

“I could have died,” the man said. “In prison, in jail, on the street, but I didn’t. And I don’t care about the old leather jacket, the sweatshirt, the shoes that are mismatched but at least from the same company. What I care about is that I am here, and I can bear my testimony to you.” He ended his testimony by saying how much he loved and appreciated the bishop and others who had helped him along. He ended his testimony by saying “God bless you all,” and he walked off the stand.

It was an amazing and beautiful moment when this man – who had suffered so much and had so little – wanted nothing more than to bear his testimony to us. I wanted to talk to the man after the meeting was over, but he left before I had a chance. I wanted to tell him how amazing he was and how much I had enjoyed what he had said. But by the time I was able to get out the door he had left by, he was gone.

The memory was a reminder of how blessed I am in my situation. I have a home, food, running water, electricity, clothes and so on. The idea of living without these things made my issues seem small in comparison.

More importantly though, this man's words spoke of God’s love for us. No matter what kind of situation you are in, the Lord is always there. All we need to do is reach out and ask for His help. He knows exactly what we need and how to help us. He will provide for us if we let Him.

The reminder of the man’s story changed my outlook that day. I realized I was fortunate both materially and spiritually. I had what I really needed – more than, in fact. And although things were not ideal, (like they ever are) they were better than I had pictured them in my mind.

(1) Bishop – Similar to a pastor, a leader of a congregation who has been asked to serve by a leader higher in the Church.