September 2022 Come Follow Me Ministering – Isaiah – Finding Peace in Obedience

The September 2022 Come, Follow Me Ministering printable ties together Elder Larry S. Kacher’s April 2022 General Conference talk “Ladder of Faith” and this September’s “Come, Follow Me” lesson on finding peace in obedience and Isaiah “Comfort Ye My People.”

Download September 2022 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable (4×6)

You can print these printables as 4×6 photo prints. My local drug store prints them for just pennies. They are also a higher resolution if you want to enlarge them.

September 2022 Come Follow Me Ministering Message

Isaiah – Finding Peace in Obedience

One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 48:18 (also quoted in 1 Nephi 20:18). I have the scripture up on my kitchen wall as a constant reminder to me.

“O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18).

The Power of Obedience

In this scripture, Isaiah is using parallelism to highlight similarities and differences between the river and the waves. Common in Hebrew poetry, parallelism is when an idea or keyword in the first line is repeated in the second line. Think of it as rhyming ideas rather than words.

In this verse, Isaiah is reminding Israel of the great power that comes with obedience. Israel would fall captive to Babylon because of their disobedience, but were promised redemption if they looked to the Lord.

Comparing Rivers and Waves

The parallelism invites us to think deeply about obedience by comparing and contrasting rivers and waves. What are some of the things they have in common and what are some of their differences?

Similarities:

• Both rivers and waves are extremely powerful. They can topple trees, move mountains, and destroy obstacles.
• Water is the source of their power. The promises that come with obedience also rely on Christ, the living waters.

Differences:

• The power of a river is calm, steady, and directed.
• The power of the waves is loud, crashing, and sudden.

The Blessings of Obedience

In this verse, Isaiah points out that when we are obedient there are two sides to the blessing.

Peace
Like the river, obedience will bring us a steady peace. I think of the blessings that come from consistent obedience in things like prayer, scripture study, and church attendance. Obedience reshapes our lives just like the Colorado River moves through the Grand Canyon. When I feel overwhelmed or afraid, I imagine the deep and constant course of a river through the valley. I am full of the blessings that come from making and keeping covenants with the Lord.

Power
On the other hand, like the ocean, obedience can also bring us surprising bursts of strength and power when we most need it. Picture the power of a mighty wave rising up from the depths and crashing onto the shore. Many miracles in life feel a lot like that. Out of nowhere we feel the power of the Lord rise and up do mighty things. Dangers are averted and impossible problems are solved. I think about Moses parting the Red Sea or the falling walls of Jericho.

Tapping in to the Power of Obedience

In his 2022 April General Conference talk, Elder Larry S. Kacher reminds us that depending too much on ourselves “can impede our ability to access the powers of heaven.” Like the river and the waves, the power is in the water, not in ourselves. Faith and obedience allow us to tap into that power.

He explains, “As we move toward true faith in Jesus Christ, our mindset begins to change. We recognize that obedience and faith in the Savior qualify us to have His Spirit always to be with us. Obedience is no longer an irritant but becomes a quest. We recognize that obedience to God’s commands enables us to be trusted of Him. With His trust comes increased light. This light guides our journey and allows us to see more clearly the path we should take.”

September 2022 Come Follow Me Ministering Handout

When I designed this printable, I had no idea what I was going to pair it with. So I went wandering around the grocery store looking for the perfect fit. I was so excited when I found these bags of Lay’s Wavy Ranch Potato Chips! They have waves! And they use the same color palette. Really, it was meant to be! You can also use the Wavy Veggie Chips if you wanted to go a little bit healthier.

Did you like this September 2022 Come Follow Me Ministering message? Find more Relief Society Ministering Printables for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
These ministering printables are a great way to help families incorporate the “Come, Follow Me” lessons into their own study. They are also perfect for Young Women’s, Relief Society, Sunday School, or Family Home Evening. I hope that these ministering printables will be a simple way to reach out to those we minister to.