I was blessed with some very beautiful lessons at church today that tied together the thoughts and themes from my recent scripture studies and I thought I should share. Do with it what you will but I hope that as you read this post, the Spirit whispers hope and love to your heart.
An analogy was given at church today that sort of perfectly portrays our relationship with God. Think back to when you were little, in the car, going to Grandma's house. Did your dad ever let you sit on his lap and "drive"? I don't think I've ever been in that situation but you can see the visual, right? Even though we are given the illusion that we're driving--I mean, we're at the wheel and we're told we're doing the driving but, we have a pretty limited idea of what we're doing. It's our dad in this situation that is really the one calling the shots. He is managing the speed and the turns. Even more than operating the vehicle, we may have known we were going to Grandma's house, but we didn't actually know how to get there.
I think I forget that I am still a little child. God has given me agency and allowed me to make my own decisions, he has even provided a plan for me to know where I'm going, but there is still so much I don't know and have to rely on him for.
Compared to the infinite, glorious, and all powerful God, we really are nothing. We have so much to do to become like Him. But our nothingness is independent of our worth. Our nothingness describes our ability and developement. It is not eternally defined. We too one day will have perfect resurrected bodies. That's a free gift to all God's children. If we live our lives righteously, we too can receive celestial glory. But our ability and developement, even our choices whether good or bad, don't affect our individual worth. Regardless of what we do or don't do in this life, at the end of the day, we're still God's children. He will still love us with a perfect love. He will still know our hearts and He will still want the very best for us. Our worth, eternally, will never deminish. Try as you might, God is still going to love you. Because you are His child. Emphasis on CHILD.
Do you actually believe it? Do you really believe God knows what's going on? Do you really believe He knows better than you? That He knows what you need to do to become like Him and what course your life needs to take? Straight up, I don't always believe that. I hear these beautiful thoughts and it's nice to think about but when it comes down to the point of trial, I still try to save myself.
I really wish I could adequately express to you the feeling of love I was blessed with today as I thought about the Savior's sacrafice for me. I know it was just a taste of Christ's love for us but it was powerful. He gave his life. Willingly. Nothing asked for in return. He didn't even want the glory. He just loved us. And He just wanted us to be with our Father again. I am so grateful to know that this act of true, pure love was given for me so that I could be forgiven of my mistakes. Because of Christ's sacrifice, I could be saved from Satan's traps and temptations, freed from my trials and adversity, lifted out of the darkness from my sorrow, and guided safely home. I believe in Christ. I believe in all that he did and was, but sometimes--far too often--I fail to believe him, and believe that he'll continue to do what he said he would.
It's hard for me to let go of control and follow an unseen being. I think of all these times I have ridden in the car with someone else at the wheel and I know where we're going. When they have taken me a way different than I expected, this panic sets in and I question if they really know where we're going. I do that a lot with God. I think I know so much and I'm like, 'Okay, if you really knew me, you would know that this is not how things should be going down.' But really, it's me who doesn't know me. I don't know what's best and I don't know what lies in store. I just know what I want. Christ has promised us that if we will follow him and keep his commandments, he will give us his spirit, the Holy Ghost, to help to do all those things.
We are little children. We still have so much to learn and do. We, in our frail, imperfect, human bodies with human abilities, cannot possibly do all that is required of us on our own. We simply cannot. No amount of pride in the world will ever give us that ability. We have to rely on our God and our Savior.
I wish I could tell you why God's mercy and answers to prayers seem delayed sometimes but I unfortunately don't see the whole picture. I have to believe that when we ask for certain blessings, The Godhead goes to work and there are things that have to fall into place in order for that prayer to be answered. Our limited view makes it seem like nothing is happening, but I know that God answers prayers. We are not alone. We are never alone. God is with us. Even when it seems he isn't. We are His children and He wants the very best for us.
An analogy was given at church today that sort of perfectly portrays our relationship with God. Think back to when you were little, in the car, going to Grandma's house. Did your dad ever let you sit on his lap and "drive"? I don't think I've ever been in that situation but you can see the visual, right? Even though we are given the illusion that we're driving--I mean, we're at the wheel and we're told we're doing the driving but, we have a pretty limited idea of what we're doing. It's our dad in this situation that is really the one calling the shots. He is managing the speed and the turns. Even more than operating the vehicle, we may have known we were going to Grandma's house, but we didn't actually know how to get there.
I think I forget that I am still a little child. God has given me agency and allowed me to make my own decisions, he has even provided a plan for me to know where I'm going, but there is still so much I don't know and have to rely on him for.
"And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed." Moses 1:10
Compared to the infinite, glorious, and all powerful God, we really are nothing. We have so much to do to become like Him. But our nothingness is independent of our worth. Our nothingness describes our ability and developement. It is not eternally defined. We too one day will have perfect resurrected bodies. That's a free gift to all God's children. If we live our lives righteously, we too can receive celestial glory. But our ability and developement, even our choices whether good or bad, don't affect our individual worth. Regardless of what we do or don't do in this life, at the end of the day, we're still God's children. He will still love us with a perfect love. He will still know our hearts and He will still want the very best for us. Our worth, eternally, will never deminish. Try as you might, God is still going to love you. Because you are His child. Emphasis on CHILD.
Do you actually believe it? Do you really believe God knows what's going on? Do you really believe He knows better than you? That He knows what you need to do to become like Him and what course your life needs to take? Straight up, I don't always believe that. I hear these beautiful thoughts and it's nice to think about but when it comes down to the point of trial, I still try to save myself.
I really wish I could adequately express to you the feeling of love I was blessed with today as I thought about the Savior's sacrafice for me. I know it was just a taste of Christ's love for us but it was powerful. He gave his life. Willingly. Nothing asked for in return. He didn't even want the glory. He just loved us. And He just wanted us to be with our Father again. I am so grateful to know that this act of true, pure love was given for me so that I could be forgiven of my mistakes. Because of Christ's sacrifice, I could be saved from Satan's traps and temptations, freed from my trials and adversity, lifted out of the darkness from my sorrow, and guided safely home. I believe in Christ. I believe in all that he did and was, but sometimes--far too often--I fail to believe him, and believe that he'll continue to do what he said he would.
It's hard for me to let go of control and follow an unseen being. I think of all these times I have ridden in the car with someone else at the wheel and I know where we're going. When they have taken me a way different than I expected, this panic sets in and I question if they really know where we're going. I do that a lot with God. I think I know so much and I'm like, 'Okay, if you really knew me, you would know that this is not how things should be going down.' But really, it's me who doesn't know me. I don't know what's best and I don't know what lies in store. I just know what I want. Christ has promised us that if we will follow him and keep his commandments, he will give us his spirit, the Holy Ghost, to help to do all those things.
We are little children. We still have so much to learn and do. We, in our frail, imperfect, human bodies with human abilities, cannot possibly do all that is required of us on our own. We simply cannot. No amount of pride in the world will ever give us that ability. We have to rely on our God and our Savior.
"With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26It's not that we're incapable to do anything without God, it's that we're capable of doing EVERYTHING when we work with God and rely on his inhuman power. Though we are nothing compared to Him, he will help us become like Him. There is so much that goes into getting us to that point. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us so much. They want us to succeed and because of this truly prefect love that they have for us, it doesn't burden them to help us. They are glad and--I believe--even anxious to send their love and wisdom and strength to get us through life's challenges.
I wish I could tell you why God's mercy and answers to prayers seem delayed sometimes but I unfortunately don't see the whole picture. I have to believe that when we ask for certain blessings, The Godhead goes to work and there are things that have to fall into place in order for that prayer to be answered. Our limited view makes it seem like nothing is happening, but I know that God answers prayers. We are not alone. We are never alone. God is with us. Even when it seems he isn't. We are His children and He wants the very best for us.
I'm grateful to know that I have a loving Father in Heaven and that no matter how small and imperfect I may be, He will always love me and root for me. I'm grateful to know that my worth is not dictated by my ability. I feel enabled by Christ's love. I'm grateful to a god who sees the whole picture and gives me loving guidance. I'm trying to trust in God's plan, rather than my own and believe that my Father and Christ will do what they said they will do and help lift me from my weaknesses.
Again, do what you will with these remarks, but I really hope that all God's children get to feel His infinite love for them and have hope in Christ's ability to save us from our mistakes, weaknesses and ourselves. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
You are such an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing this beautiful insight. I love you. Always.
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