Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Faith in every footstep

I have loved keeping this blog. It has been a forum for my thoughts and an excuse to look for my blessings and examine my choices in the use of my time and means. I am so grateful, so incredibly grateful for faith. My husband often cites Brigham Young (an early leader in the LDS or "Mormon" church) as saying that faith can move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel.

The illustration of metalworking is apt as well. Faith must be tried, heated, shaped, to truly be strong and become a tool we can utilize.

I recently received a new calling. (In our church assignments are given, we believe, through revelation and according to God's will by one who is called to organize and has a leadership position.) It is an assignment that will require alot of time and energy, but is one that I know I have been prepared for. I felt calm and at peace throughout that day, but I tell you, my faith the next day was sorely tried. Doubts came from every direction, I didn't seem able to focus, my abilities were called into question by myriads of reminders of weaknesses I have. I even found myself so unfocused that I had difficulty driving. My very safety and that of my children seemed at risk. I was an emotional mess and when I asked for a father's blessing that night, I felt abandoned at the lack of calm and peace it produced - even though it did contain wonderful counsel and blessings. Why would this happen?

With peace in my heart and joy in my soul, I can say that I know now that my faith was being tried and it shines brighter now than it did before. The peace and calm returned when I realized that on my own, yes, I would fall flat on my face. If all was left up to me, I would undoubtedly fail. But I am not serving alone. I know that if I am humble, God will stand by me in this. I've said it before, I am weak and have many faults, but if God wants me to do this, then he'll help me succeed at it. I feel I have much to learn, and that is exciting.

This experience has also thrown into deep contrast the difference between feelings from a loving God and feelings from a strong and knowing adversary. How different they are.

Anyway, so my worthwhile today is faith. Never still, constantly growing. With God, all things are truly possible - and so, with faith, all things are possible. In the Book of Mormon, when asked to do a difficult task, the brothers of a prophet named Nephi said "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?" and this prophet's response is one of my favorite scriptures - "And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be afaithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not bmightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?" 1 Nephi 3:31-4:1


Keep the faith!

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your feelings and faith with us. We love you guys! Love, The Ferres

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  2. Thanks - I think I keep coming back to faith on my worthwhiles list. I guess it's really worthwhile! We love you guys too!

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  3. You'll be amazed at the inspiration that will come as you fulfill your calling in church and as a mother. Faith is an amazing thing and I KNOW that you are full of faith. :)

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  4. I'm not sure I have much else, but faith I do have Venessa. I am already so grateful for this calling. (I mean that I'm grateful for both the newest as well as the calling of motherhood.)

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