Rory Vaden tells a story about the different reactions that cows and buffalos have to an oncoming storm. Cows will sense the storm and try to run from it. As they run the storm will keep pace with it causing them to endure the pain and terror far longer than if they had simply stood still. Buffalos, on the other hand, charge into the storm and get through it much quicker. On an ancient battlefield, while both armies were lined up shoulder to shoulder facing each other, it wasn't much more dangerous than a football scrimmage line. Almost all of the casualties happened after one side put their backs to their enemies and fled. When the 2060 Stripling Warriors survived battle after battle, it was of course because of their faith in the merciful and miraculous power of their Heavenly Father but it was also because they were firm and steadfast and did not run from the fight. When we choose to face our challenges head on, the Lord is with us. “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88). God goes before our face when we choose to face what is in front of us with courage and faith and hope. When we turn and run from our fears, we deny our own powers, meager as they may be, but we also deny God's power. We may think that by running away from our problems, we are minimizing the pain, but, like the cows running from the storm or the soldiers running from the battle, we only subject ourselves to the torment for far longer and put ourselves in a much more vulnerable and exposed position than we would if we charged into the challenge head on. God promises to go out and front and add His power and strength to our own, but He can only do this if we are facing Him and the problems that He is willing to help us with. If we turn our backs on our problems, then we also turn our backs on God and His power. There is power in facing our fears and trusting that our Heavenly Father will be there out in front preparing the way for our success.
