Dangling

“Mommy! HELP!” came the distress call…again.
Being two years old can be rough. Everything the big kids do looks indescribably marvelous, and only part way through an experience does one realize one does not have the height, strength, or knowledge to complete the task.
And so I find my Curly-haired Wonder stranded quite often, stuck and in dire need of assistance.
This time she was dangling from the entrance hole of our upstairs playroom. Inches from her feet was a safe landing, but she couldn’t see it and couldn’t feel it with her toes. In her mind, she was seconds away from dropping into an unknown black hole. Older Brother was trying unsuccessfully to help, which caused more panic. Hence, the loud distress signal sent to Mom.
Assessing the situation, my heart was touched as I calmly put a hand on her leg and verbally coaxed her to continue lowering herself to safety.
Just days before, life events had left me feeling like this child, dangling above unknown future events and crying out in my heart: “But, Father, I cannot see! I cannot feel where the next movement will take me!”
And I had felt a comforting touch from the Holy Ghost as well as a directed series of thoughts:

Isn’t that what faith is? Moving forward with hope when you cannot see or predict the outcome? With that realization, my head instinctively bowed and the thoughts kept coming:

Is God real? Yes.

Is He close by? Yes, I can feel that.

Can you trust Him?

Pause.

Yes.

Then move forward. He can see when you cannot.

John 14:8 came to mind: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

“As we act in accordance with the truths of His gospel, we are blessed with the spiritual capacity to press forward through the challenges of mortality while focusing on the joys the Savior offers to us. Truly, “if we do what’s right we have no need to fear, for the Lord, our helper, will ever be near.”¹
Whether you are doing everything in your power to invite the companionship and direction of the Holy Ghost and are intentionally keeping the commandments — or not — — you can KNOW He is right there and can see where you will safely land. You are not alone in difficult times.
Cleaning up cluttered communication lines between you and your Heavenly Father will make these facts clear: Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are near. No “child” of any age, stage, or walk of life will be left distressed and dangling.