His hand is stretched out still

We often say that “God loves everyone, no matter what.”

We use this to comfort loved ones who have made mistakes and think there is no way back to Heavenly Father. Of course there is! He still loves you!

But do we sometimes think that we are the exception?

That there is no way that God could still love US after that big mistake that WE made?

Or, I think even more common, that there is no way that God could still love us after all the good little things we AREN’T doing?

It is easy for me to think about all the blessings that I have. I was born into the gospel, I have easy access to the scriptures, I’m the member of a kind ward who teaches with love, I have a beautiful family that is trying to be better every day.

I am SO blessed.

And yet I am SO imperfect. 

I have all of these rich opportunities, and yet I waste many of them. 

I could be doing so much better. 

And sometimes, it is hard to envision a loving Heavenly Father when I see how far I am from where I want to be. 

But in 2 Nephi Chapter 19, after listing all of the unrighteous things that people will do, we are reminded repeatedly that “his hand is stretched out still.”

His hand is stretched out still.

I take this pretty literally. I picture his hand reaching out to me when I go to sleep instead of reading my scriptures. I picture his hand reaching out to me when I am lazy. I picture his hand reaching out to me when I get frustrated with my child. 

I picture his hand reaching out to me ALWAYS. 

Whether it’s one big sin, or innumerable little shortcomings.

He loves us, and his hand is reaching out to us.

And every single time we reach out to grab his hand, he will lift us just a little bit higher. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black