Chapter 24: Feeling Unappreciated and Alone?
Have you ever done something nice—really, really nice—for a group of people and had only one of them thank you? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ knows how it feels to be unappreciated.
Jesus “entered into a certain village, and there met him ten men that were lepers…. And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests…. and as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine” (Luke 17:11-17).
Have you ever taken the opportunity to share a gospel truth with someone in the sincerity of your heart and had the person reject the principle and turn away from you as well? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ knows how it feels to have His teachings and Himself rejected.
“When he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him” (Matthew 13:54-57).
Have you ever asked one of your dearest friends to help you through a terrible ordeal and had the friend drop out of your life, figuratively fall asleep, in the middle of the crisis? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ knows how it feels to be left alone during adversity.
“He taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour” (Mark 14:33-37)?
Have you ever had a family member with whom you shared a strong personal bond taken from you unexpectedly in death? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ also knows how the loneliness of losing a dear cousin in death feels.
“Herod on his birthday made a supper…. And when the daughter of… Herodias… danced, and pleased Herod. [He] said unto [her], ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee…. And she said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:21-24).
Have you ever felt that you had a really good friend, someone you trusted, someone you thought would support you in good times as well as in times of trial and had that person betray your confidence? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ also knows how it feels to be betrayed by a trusted friend.
“Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him” (Matthew 26:47-49).
Have you ever been desperate for comfort? Jesus said: “Daughter, be of good comfort” (Matthew 9:22). “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18).
Have you ever been anxious and afraid? Jesus said: “Fear not, little flock” (Luke 12:32).
Have you ever been in the personal war of an unhappy relationship? Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Have you ever been sick? Jesus said, “I will come and heal [you]” (Matthew 8:7).
Have you ever been thirsty? Jesus said: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).
Have you ever been hungry? Jesus “took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children” (Matthew 15:36-38).
Have you ever been spiritually hungry? “Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35).
Have you ever been in the darkness of depression or addiction? Jesus said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The fact that the Son of God experience mortal trials, helps me trust Him and His Atonement. He knows how it feels to be me. This doctrine is explained forthrightly: "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12).
Because "succor" is not a word I use very often, I looked up synonyms. Succor can be a noun and a verb. Succor, the noun, is the assistance, the support, given or received during times of adversity and hardship. Succor, the verb, is the action of giving assistance and support to someone in need. The Medieval Latin succursus, itself a derivative of the Latin verb succurrere, meaning "to run to the rescue or to bring aid." Jesus knows because of His omniscience and because of His experience how to succor and with what to succor.
"In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be" (How Firm a Foundation, Hymns, 85).
In studying the life of Christ, how I hope there were those who knew how to succor Him when He felt alone and unappreciated because He surely does that for me.
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford, 2018
Have you ever taken the opportunity to share a gospel truth with someone in the sincerity of your heart and had the person reject the principle and turn away from you as well? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ knows how it feels to have His teachings and Himself rejected.
“When he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him” (Matthew 13:54-57).
Have you ever asked one of your dearest friends to help you through a terrible ordeal and had the friend drop out of your life, figuratively fall asleep, in the middle of the crisis? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ knows how it feels to be left alone during adversity.
“He taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour” (Mark 14:33-37)?
Have you ever had a family member with whom you shared a strong personal bond taken from you unexpectedly in death? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ also knows how the loneliness of losing a dear cousin in death feels.
“Herod on his birthday made a supper…. And when the daughter of… Herodias… danced, and pleased Herod. [He] said unto [her], ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee…. And she said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:21-24).
Have you ever felt that you had a really good friend, someone you trusted, someone you thought would support you in good times as well as in times of trial and had that person betray your confidence? If you have, you are not alone. Jesus Christ also knows how it feels to be betrayed by a trusted friend.
“Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him” (Matthew 26:47-49).
Have you ever been desperate for comfort? Jesus said: “Daughter, be of good comfort” (Matthew 9:22). “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18).
Have you ever been anxious and afraid? Jesus said: “Fear not, little flock” (Luke 12:32).
Have you ever been in the personal war of an unhappy relationship? Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Have you ever been sick? Jesus said, “I will come and heal [you]” (Matthew 8:7).
Have you ever been thirsty? Jesus said: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).
Have you ever been hungry? Jesus “took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children” (Matthew 15:36-38).
Have you ever been spiritually hungry? “Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35).
Have you ever been in the darkness of depression or addiction? Jesus said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The fact that the Son of God experience mortal trials, helps me trust Him and His Atonement. He knows how it feels to be me. This doctrine is explained forthrightly: "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12).
Because "succor" is not a word I use very often, I looked up synonyms. Succor can be a noun and a verb. Succor, the noun, is the assistance, the support, given or received during times of adversity and hardship. Succor, the verb, is the action of giving assistance and support to someone in need. The Medieval Latin succursus, itself a derivative of the Latin verb succurrere, meaning "to run to the rescue or to bring aid." Jesus knows because of His omniscience and because of His experience how to succor and with what to succor.
"In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be" (How Firm a Foundation, Hymns, 85).
In studying the life of Christ, how I hope there were those who knew how to succor Him when He felt alone and unappreciated because He surely does that for me.
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford, 2018
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