Reserve Resources – Sunday, December 17, 1950
In days of deepening disappointment men react in many ways, depending upon their teaching and temperament, upon their outlook and understanding, and upon the faith and foundations on which their feet are fixed. To sudden and shocking news, depression and deep discouragement are perhaps the immediate reaction of most of us. The first impact almost always brings a heavy heart and a feeling that the future is futile. But what happens after the first impact is exceedingly important. Some become cynical. Some become desperately despondent. Some rush into fevered action without any real plan or purpose. Some give up and lay aside all plans and purpose and live in listlessness. But some quietly think things through, consider the issues and the alternatives, and recover their courage and then set about to do as promptly as possible what should and can be done. In any circumstance or situation, despondent inaction, purposeless resignation is almost the worst thing in the world. And to you who are depressed, to you who are young and are trying to see the future before you, to you who have lived to see the future in your families, to you who have loved ones you have lost or fear to lose, to you who have oppressive problems and are heartsick and heavy-laden, to all of you (and to all of us together)—take courage, have faith, believe in the future; live and work and watch and wait and pursue life prayerfully, repentantly, and purposefully. There are reserve resources within us that we seldom see or suspect until we are pressed beyond the point of our usual performance. But even when we come to what seems to be the end of our own resources, there is another and never-failing source of strength and peace and purpose in our Father who is in heaven, and in His Son, our Savior, the Prince of peace. The courage and conviction of men in a righteous cause is a source of surpassing strength. But even if we were to meet situations beyond the combined wisdom and judgment and effort and ingenuity of all of us, we shall never meet a situation that is beyond the help of Him in whose image men were made and who would not withhold His helping hand from a sincerely repentant person or people.
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December 17, 1950
Broadcast Number 1,113