I was reading in Divine Signatures by Gerald Lund today (AMAZING book, by the way. I highly recommend it, but more on that later!) and Elder Lund was talking about the trials of our faith. He quotes Ether 12:5: "They did not believe because they saw....not." The Jaredites in in this passage refused to believe in what the prophets were saying because they had no evidence or proof that they could see for themselves. Moroni continues saying, "I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."
Simple principle, right? We hear and are reminded of them all the time, and there are so many principles such as this. But how many times do we stop and take a hard enough look at our lives to realize that maybe we're dismissing them or denying them after all? That happened to me today. This hit me like a ton of bricks-or should I say, two-the chastening kind, and the hoping kind.
In the everyday struggle that is life, I want God to lead me. My problem is that in the decisions I make, especially those concerning my healthcare, to me, I have to feel (aka the Spirit) that they are right and are going to lead me to the solutions I am hoping for. If I don't feel an overwhelming sense of peace, I worry that I'm going down the right path and go forward in doubt or don't move all together. It's paralyzing! I realize every now and again (I need a lot of reminders) that requiring a "feeling" from the spirit in order for me to have hope for something is exactly against what the principle of faith is all about. I was subconsciously expecting Heavenly Father for a witness (i.e. evidence, proof, confirmation, testimony) before I had a trial of my faith. I exercised a certain amount of faith, all right; we all do everyday. But I don't think the true trial of faith occurred. I didn't give it the chance. I simple said, "Well, I don't have the feeling it's going to work, so why do it? If I do it, why get my hopes up? I'll do it, but I won't really be expecting anything good to come from it."
I think we do this a little every day, with whatever our circumstances or challenges. Some may have more trials of their faith than others. Others still may have more arduous ones than the person next to them. We can't see the end from the beginning, and we are not supposed to. That actually is more relieving, than burdening. It's relieving to know that God expects us to cast our situations, worries and problems at His divine feet. I haven't had a witness telling me that the efforts I am making are going to have successful outcomes, but I have a quiet reassurance that something will come, someday. And I do believe that throwing in the towel and not exercising faith and hope will only slow us down. Faith is a principle with a promise: If we move forward and use it, we will, without a doubt, receive a witness of it when our trial is done, whenever that may come.
What helps you exercise your faith and hope in life's challenges?
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