Peace for the future

Preparation brings peace.

I know I can’t prepare for everything, but I can do what I can when I know what the future might bring.

So when I hosted our preschool co-op this week, I worked hard with my husband to clean the house every night and get all of the materials ready to go.

In the mornings before preschool? Peace. I was even giving my kids a bath up until 20 minutes beforehand because we weren’t in any rush.

And when I taught 6th grade, I always tried to plan my weeks out ahead of time.

That way, when it was time to prep for the day, I knew exactly what to do. Peace.

And when I performed in piano recitals, I would practice over and over so that the notes settled into muscle memory.

When it was time to play my piece? Peace.

We can’t prepare for everything (2020 has taught us that, for sure).

But when we know something is coming, using our mature sense of delayed gratification to prepare NOW for what we will need LATER is what will bring us peace.

The Nephites and Lamanites in the land spent at least a few months gathering all of their families, supplies, livestock, and food into one place.

They prepared enough for seven years.

And so when the robbers attacked? Peace. They turned to God in prayer rather that turning from their enemy in fear.

And their preparation ended up being exactly what caused their enemy’s demise.

Because the robbers had not prepared.

They couldn’t live on “borrowed oil”.

So what can we do to prepare for the future?

Whether we need to get something organized, send an email, or strengthen a part of our testimony, the principle of preparation is a beautiful lesson in using our hard work NOW to make room for peace LATER.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black