The Power Outside Ourselves – August 27, 2000
Deep in every one of us lies a need for prayer—a stretching and striving to find a power outside ourselves.
This is borne out in times of crisis, when men and women feel helpless, with nowhere to turn. As the Psalmist said, “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.”1
Happier are those who recognize in the impulse to pray an opportunity to seek out God regularly rather than searching for Him only in times of peril. Consider the story of a father and his two sons. One son looked upon his father as the last resort when in critical need. He never sought his advice or confidence. He went to college and wrote home only when he needed money. He led his life in utter disregard of his father’s character or purpose, and turned to him only when he was in desperate straits. The other son found a friend in his father. He confided in him, was advised by him, and kept close to him. In times of crisis, he came to his father with a naturalness born of long and loving habit.
Prayer will not serve us well if uttered only in times of distress. The purpose of prayer is to seek answers, to strengthen us for what needs to be done, to provide us with power to solve our own problems, and to give us a boost to do our best.
Prayer is the evidence of our faith in that power outside ourselves. It brings help and comfort. A single mother walking home in the evening could see her house lighted up, and imagined her children waiting for her with their many needs. Her burdens were heavy and she prayed: “Father, I can’t do it tonight. I’m too tired. I can’t face going home and taking care of all those children alone. Could I come to You and stay for just one night? I promise I’ll come back in the morning.” She then felt these words of reply in her mind: “No, you can’t come to Me now. But I can come to you.”2
We can’t go to heaven to find Him. As we pray, He finds us.
Program #3706
1. Psalm 107:28.
2. See Gordon B. Hinckley, “What God Hath Joined Together,” Ensign, May 1991, 71.