Recently, a friend who had gone through a severe trial compared the support she had received to the help that giant redwood trees in California give one another in order to survive. Apparently, these mammoth trees of northern California have extremely shallow roots for their gigantic size, and individually should topple over. But they compensate for this lack of vertical depth by sending out a sophisticated grid of shallow horizontal roots. This network of roots interlocks sideways with the roots of the neighboring trees, creating a synergy of strength that is available only when they help one another. By doing so, the trees buoy one another up as they strengthen and help each other. She likened this support system to the network of help and strength she received from neighbors and from the Savior through her intense trial.
Alma 36:27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
28 And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time.
LESSON LEARNED: Support during trials is usually close at hand and comes in simple ways. Each of us will take our turn to both give and receive this help as we cycle through the vicissitudes of life.
FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS NETWORK OF STRENGTH AS A GIVER AND/OR RECEIVER DURING A TRIAL?
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