The Wind Does Never Cease to Blow Towards Our Promised Land

The Jesus and Heavenly Parents I know, the Jesus and Heavenly Parents I love, never quit. They never accept defeat. They never leave us fallen. And They never ever stop trying to interact in our lives and to deepen a relationship with each of us.

Jesus and our Heavenly Parents never cease to love, to support, and to do everything in Their power to lead us to our promised land. Throughout our lives we will find ourselves like a group of travelers known as the Jaredites. This small group of travelers left Jerusalem thousands of years ago and traveled to what is now known as the American continent. A few of their experiences were recorded in the Book of Mormon and provide a metaphor for our own lives.

We, like the Jaredites, at times travel in “ferocious wind,” “tossed upon the waves” of the seas of our lives, and are “many times buried in the depths of the sea,” with “mountain waves [breaking] upon [us],” and “great and terrible tempests” (Ether 6:5-7).

These life experiences may drag on, and on, day after day, month after month, or even year after year. Yet, I know that even in these periods, there are a multitude of tender mercies bestowed upon us (verse 12). We are not alone; we are not forgotten.

God answers our prayers or leads us to something better. Always leading us to our promised land.

In fact, in the darkest of times, in the most turbulent periods of our lives, when the world and waves of life are beating upon us, when we feel buried, we are still being watched over and guided to our individual promised land. This promised land is a choice land, a place better than we are in now, and a place better than we can imagine.

God is Good! Jesus is Good! To help us during our dark times, God sends Light. He does not want us to travel in darkness, and we don’t have to travel in darkness. Light comes in the forms of prophets, scriptures, answered prayers, good fellow travelers, and more.

The greatest Light is Jesus Christ. The Lord talks with us and gives directions to help us know where and how to travel (Ether 2:5). It is up to us to take the Light and allow it to shine in our darkness.

The Jaredites had to trust the process, or in other words trust in God, “commending themselves unto the Lord their God” (verse 4). The furious winds blew them, “towards the promised land.” Yet, along the way they were still “tossed” and “buried.” However, “no water could hurt them, their vessels being tight.”

These vessels were constructed “according to the instructions of the Lord” (Ether 2:16). The instructions enabled them to build their water vessels “exceedingly tight” so the water could not come in (verse 17). When we build our lives on Jesus Christ, when we follow His guidance, our lives will be tight. We will be protected against the storms and waves when the winds furiously blow.

The Lord knows the way because He is the way. He travels “before [us] (Ether 1:42). The winds drive us (urge us forward), never ceasing to blow us towards our promised land.

How do I take these principles and put them into action?

Here are 5 steps:

1.        Commit to Being Curious: 

·      Principle: The winds are directional, not destructive. Curiosity is proactive and shifts your purpose from fear to faith. Ask: What if this is happening for me, not to me?

·      Action: Ask: What could God be doing for me through this situation? Make a list of possible ways your current trial could lead to something better than what you originally expected, leading you to your promised land.”

2.        Flip the Narrative: This Storm is Serving My Story:

·      Principle:  The waves aren’t wrecking you; they are carrying you. What feels like chaos may be movement towards your promised land. When you reframe the storm, you reclaim your peace.

·      Action: Ask: What is this storm teaching me? What is this preparing me for? Write a declaration. For example: This wind is not working against me. It’s working for me. Repeat it every time you feel overwhelmed.

3.        Embrace Challenges as Spiritual Muscle-Building: 

·      Principle: Every wave builds spiritual muscle. Instead of resenting challenges, see them as God’s way of strengthening you for what’s ahead. This trial is shaping me for something greater.

·      Action: Ask: What can I learn here? What strength is God building in me through this storm? Each day, write: One thing I’m learning from this storm is… or What strength am I building through this?

4.        Move Forward with Faith, Trust the Wind:

·      Principle: Faith is active, not passive. You don’t have to wait for calm seas to take your next step. Trust that what feels like opposition is divine direction. You’re not waiting for the storm to end; you’re moving in it. Trust God in your trials. The very thing you prayed for, God is answering, but it looks like a storm because He’s shifting you.

·      Action: Ask: Where have I seen God redirect me through something I didn’t want? What is one thing I can do today that my future self will thank me for? Examples: Send a resume. Read one verse. Send an encouraging text. Write a gratitude list.

5.        Keep Your Promised Land Vision Alive

·      Principle: Hope fades without vision. Your promised land isn’t just a destination, it’s a state of peace, purpose, and alignment. What does living like that person look like today? Start living that way now.

·      Action: Write down your promised land statement. For example: God is leading me to a place of peace, purpose, and joy, something greater than I can now imagine. Put it somewhere visible (mirror, phone wallpaper). Review it every morning or when you feel stuck or lost. Ask: What is one way I can live in alignment with my promised land today?

Conclusion

The winds in your life are not random, and your storms are not meaningless. Every gust, every wave, every moment you feel tossed about, is moving you closer to a place God has already prepared for you. Your promised land is greater than you can imagine.

You are not forgotten, and you are not failing; you're in motion. Keep your eyes on the Light, hold fast to the One who goes before you. Trust that even when you can't see the shore, God is helping steer the course. You are stronger than you think, closer than you know, and fully equipped to reach the place God has for you.

So, take heart, keep moving forward in faith, and never forget: the wind does not cease to blow you towards your promised land.