Daily Bread January 19

I Was Lost, but Now Am Found
Grace Andrews of Independence, MO, USA


God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare. -Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a

After getting a new prescription for eyeglasses I drove to a large store with a reputable optical group where I had gone before. Finding a parking place in that sea of cars was challenging, but eventually I was able to find one. I locked my car and walked toward the nearest entrance. It has long been my habit to count the cars between my vehicle and the front of any facility to enable me to easily return to my car. In this instance I counted five cars and two rows from the entrance. Easy!

It took all of ten minutes for my paperwork to be approved. I walked out of the store and to my car. Not so fast! Five cars and two rows later, my car was nowhere in sight. I checked the rows around me, with people going to and fro, to no avail. I stopped in the middle of one lane and held up my key fob. Pressing the button, no familiar sound came back to me.

Suddenly out of nowhere a young teenage boy approached and asked if he could help me. I explained my embarrassing situation, and he asked for a description of the car. Together we walked up and down a few aisles with no luck. Finally, I thanked him for his help, but told him he had better things to do and likely his family was waiting for him. I assured him I would be fine, and he reluctantly left me. One last suggestion he made in parting was that I think carefully about the store entrance and from which direction I entered it.

I began to search again. I have never been good with directions, always saying, “I am directionally challenged.” Feeling quite lost, I stopped and prayed, “Oh, God, help me. I’m all alone out here.” Then I remembered the boy’s words and thought again about the entrance to the store. I was completely mortified to realize I was on the opposite side of the huge parking lot. Heading in a new direction I was overjoyed to see my car just where I had left it. I whispered a prayer of thanks to God for helping me and returned to the safety of my home.

How often have we been lost in one way or another? I do not know the name of the young boy that came, like an angel, offering help and giving wise words of encouragement. I spent countless minutes of near panic before I finally turned to God and asked for direction. Why do I do that? Instead of being wild-eyed and going helter-skelter in the wrong direction, at the first moment of loss, God should have been uppermost in my mind. I will likely lose my way again, but when that happens, I hope I will seek God’s direction first.

Prayer Phrase

“Light dawns on a weary world.” CCS 240

Spiritual Practice

The Light of God

Epiphany invites us to focus on the light of God. Close your eyes and draw your attention to your breath. As you breathe gently in and out, reflect on the statement, “The light of God is in all things.” The light has a bright, soft beauty and radiates God’s healing love. The light of God reaches you and permeates you with a deep sense of peace. Rest in the light as it surrounds and fills you. Thank God that you live in God’s light and it lives in you.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.

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