Today is a miraculous day for me. I think I finally figured something out. And it has taken me almost 29 years to get it. I truly feel that Ella has not gotten better yet because I needed to come to this realization first. The first principle of the gospel is not “faith.” The first principle of the gospel is “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Faith does not exist by itself. Faith requires an object. It must be faith in something or someone. How many times have I heard that but until now it hasn’t sunk deep into my heart. I read quite a few talks this morning about faith, but a talk by Elder Oaks was exactly what I needed to learn about it. It was tailored just for me.
I’ve always struggled with the topic of faith. It just seems so broad, intangible, and so ambiguous. I couldn’t ever simplify it for my finite understanding. I think I was trying to make it more difficult but the basis is so simple.
During the past few weeks, I thought I was exercising faith by believing Ella would get better, by believing in the power of the Priesthood, by believing our prayers would be answered. Not to say that isn’t faith but I was missing the key. My faith wasn’t centered in Jesus Christ. I had faith in faith but I wasn’t focusing on the Savior’s role in my life and how he is the basis of every other facet of faith.
The second thing I learned is that faith must include trust.
Faith must include trust. When we have faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ, we must have trust in him. We must trust him enough
that we are content to accept his will, knowing that he knows what is
best for us.
The kind of faith that includes trust in the Lord stands in contrast
to many imitations. Some people trust no one but themselves. Some put
their highest trust in a friend or another family member, perhaps
because they feel that person is more righteous or more wise than they.
But that is not the Lord’s way. He told us to put our faith and our
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Such a powerful example of that faith and trust was the Savior himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. He pleaded with Heavenly Father to remove the cup from him but he said "not my will but thine be done." This is what impressed me the most–His prayer wasn’t answered by granting his plea to relieve the suffering. He still had to go through it but he was strengthed by his Father because he trusted in Him.
True faith includes the But If Not … That is the part I’ve been missing.
They knew that they [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego] could trust God—even if things didn’t turn out the way
they hoped. They knew that faith is more than mental assent, more than an
acknowledgment that God lives. Faith is total trust in Him.
So that’s it! Not to say I can stop striving to understand faith, but I’m on a different level now. And it feels good. Really good.
2 Comments
Now, isn’t it COMPLETELY obvious why I love this woman so much?
yea, Jeff..it IS obvious why you love her so much…she’s wonderful!
cher..LOVE these words..love how they made me feel…
love the Spirit you bring with these blog entries…
you need to print them out & keep them in your journal.
Now…I have to tell you…our Stake conf. was all about HAVING MORE FAITH.
Elder Halverson talked about it a lot…so, it’s interesting that you have said it
again..
hmm…
I must need more faith.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks for this wunerful entry!:)
xoxox