It’s been another whirlwind week of zone conferences and tomorrow will be our last one this round (the 10th in 3 weeks) I know our parents worry that we’ll wear out, but honestly being with the missionaries is like plugging into an outlet! Between listening to General Conference last weekend and meeting with them, we are fully “charged.”
It’s a miracle really. Not unlike the kind that sustains a 97-year-old prophet to bop around like a 30-year-old; He and all the other “old men” who over-see a church of over 16.5 million people. One of the apostles’ great granddaughters is a missionary of ours and she says they all work 9 -10-hour days and keep ticking with full energy, stamina and mental faculty! I know that happens through “Grace” which is something I’ve been studying lately…
Grace is defined as “an enabling power from God to do things we cannot do on our own…” (bible dictionary) There are many ways the Lord enables us…
-ability to progress when the way before us is blocked-
-feel peace amidst turbulence,
-to have joy when surrounded by sorrow.
-to find strength despite our trials!
-not to mention when my own capacity to forgive, or find impossible solutions, or love others who are difficult to love, or see beyond the pain of the moment- is terribly inadequate, I can ask for His grace, His love, His ability- and He will fill the empty spaces I am incapable of filling, enlarge my capacity and give me His eternal perspective.
I’ve long believed that in my own life, the greater miracle, by far, than being healed, was to have had the strength and peace during the years before I was made whole! It took a long while for me to learn to recognize it, but it was so obvious as the challenges increased that we were not alone through any of it!
The same was true for the people of Alma who were in bondage to the Lamanites and had heavy burdens to bear. They were weighed down and begging God to remove them from their trials (as we all do) While, in time, he does help them escape, He first gives them what I consider to be a greater miracle; the ability to “bear up their burdens with ease.”
President Nelson taught us, “Joy is not found in the circumstances of our lives, but in the focus of our lives.” I couldn’t agree more!
When I re-read the entire chapter of 2N 25 it puts verse 23 in a different context…“My grace is sufficient, after all we can do”… (2N 25:23) We all know that we do not earn our way to heaven or into the heart of God- That happens through Grace, but what I am discovering is that my “all I can do” is to “Believe in Christ.” The rest of the chapter repeats at least 6 times in those words and another dozen in similar wording. I know that no matter how talented, or accomplished or polished or learned or practiced or charismatic, we will We ALL “ fall short of the Glory of God…” (Romans 3:23) But through His divine Grace (made possible through Christ’s Atonement) we can return to Him.
And that’s o.k! That’s by design! We get to choose to Him, to Believe in Him and rely on Him! “…Ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in Him, relying wholly on the merits of Him who is mighty to save.” (2N 31:19)
Combined with the understanding we have of the Atonement of Christ, it’s really powerful! “Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the world you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and cannot fix is the very purpose of the Atonement of Christ…” (Elder Packer)
Many people (including some of our missionaries) take “Perfectionism” or the invitation to become perfect a little too literally. I don’t have to explain what the world means by perfect. But the Greek translation of the word “perfect” means “complete” or “finished”. So the invitation to “be ye therefore perfect” means to be complete and if we understand that only happens through Christ, we know our “all we can do” is to Believe he’s capable of finishing us! Completing us!
I love the scripture in (2 Corr 12:7-9) “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect (or complete) in weakness.”
“I am nothing- as to my own strength I am weak.” (Alma 26:12) And THAT’S OK.
Each of these 9 Zone Conferences so far has beautifully illustrated this principal in the lives of our missionaries. I marvel at their growth and increased capacity! It’s like watching one of those national geographic videos of a seed sprouting into a tree in time lapse photography. There were some we met when we arrived that were unsure and timid, others who struggled to hold personal study or do companionship study, still more who weren’t sure why they were here or didn’t yet love the work or the people, and still others whose own testimonies needed a major boost! But they put forth effort, they pray for love, they “experiment” on the word, learn to rely on their Savior, study and work and exercise faith and they change before our very eyes! I love it!
They’re trusting, even reverencing, the incredible example in Rick! I know he’s far less theatrical than the last president, but they see in Him what I’ve always seen and that is that Quiet waters run deep! They’ve really come to love & respect Him as evidenced in their letters & interviews.
It’s the first full Zone conference we’ve been able really plan and execute ourselves since we arrived and it’s been phenomenal! They teach, inspire, strengthen and lift each other and us! I’m amazed at their depth and capacity. In many ways I look up to them. I know how green I feel, but they are so young and yet so wise! There’s no place I’d rather be while we’re here than with them! We couldn’t feel more blessed! Growth is real, change is possible! God is real and His Grace is sufficient!
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