Do You Trust Him?

My religion class this week talked about something that really made me think. We were talking about miracles and trusting God. My professor put this question up on the white board, "Can you trust God?" He said that this question has two interpretations.

1. Is God trustworthy?
2. Is your personal level of faith enough to trust Him?

I LOVE this. It's pretty simple, if we believe that God is trustworthy, but we still don't trust him, then it is a question of our personal faith. If we feel like we can trust him based off of the faith that we have, then he is trustworthy. The two questions go hand in hand. 

I believe that trust is believing in someone and knowing that you can rely on them. I think it is easier than we often think to lack faith on our side of trusting God. I know that I have been guilty of thinking that someone else could be blessed for something, but doubting that I could be blessed the same way. This is bad! Trust in God is trusting that He will bless you with what you seek BUT according to His will and His timing. It is moving forward with hope in the future. 

I love the story of the Leper in Mark chapter 8. This leper came up to Jesus and said, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean" (emphasis added). What I love about this statement is the amount of trust this man had in Jesus! He straight up told Jesus that he could heal him, BUT according to what Jesus thinks is best. He was going to be happy with whatever the outcome was. 

That is how we need to be--fully trusting in Him and fully accepting His will. He knows what is best for us, and when we trust in that and respect that, life is happier and easier. 

So, friends, do YOU trust Him?

Balance

This week in my religion class here at BYU we talked a lot about Jesus Christ in his younger years. What struck me the most was the very last verse in Luke 2, the chapter all about the birth of Jesus and his younger years. It says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and statue, and in favour with God and man."

My professor explained this verse by saying that God wants us to have balance in our lives. Too often we become overwhelmed with life and trying to do too much of one thing whether it be church, family, or education related. He explained this verse by breaking each part of it into a piece that is significant to most people, especially us young adults trying to get through college in one piece.

1. 1. Wisdom: education, seeking to learn more and more.
2. 2. Stature: physical health
3. 3. Favor with God: spirituality
4. 4. Favor with man: a social life

For us to live the life that God wants us to live, we must find a balance between all of these. Too much of a focus on one will throw our life off balance and that leads to defeat, discouragement, and stress.

For me, in college, I tend to get off balance by focusing too much on my studies. I have been working hard this semester to keep a balance. Study hard, but go to the gym, take time to study my scriptures, and be around friends. I have been happier and my life feels more balanced. Magically, everything is getting done. God blesses us when we do our best. Remember that as you go about your day trying to keep your life balanced. No one is perfect, and our balance will sway different directions occasionally, but as we do our best to keep an equilibrium, we will feel the difference and feel the love and help of God more strongly in our lives.

Nothing is Impossible

Hello friends!

While studying my scriptures this week, I was reading in Luke chapter 1 where the angel Gabriel appears to Elisabeth and Mary to tell them they will be pregnant with two very important people--John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Both of these pregnancies are miracles! Elisabeth has already reached an age where she can no longer have children and Mary is not yet married. In other words, these pregnancies were totally and completely IMPOSSIBLE.

But, they happened. How did they happen? The answer is found in Luke 1:37. One simple phrase. It says,

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Honestly, I believe the best scriptures are the simple scriptures. That is it. God can make anything happen that needs to happen. He can create miracle births, he can heal the seemingly unhealable, he can accomplish whatever he needs to. 

To me, in my life, this scripture linked with these stories remind me that anything is possible. When I think that something is impossible, when I feel helpless, I think of this story. We can always have hope. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen. God will not let something not happen if it is supposed to happen. We may not know the timing, or understand the reasoning, or believe that the blessing or miracle will come, but it will. He's the best. 

So for you, my readers, I just hope this can bring you hope if you need it. Peace if you need it. Encouragement if you need it. Nothing is impossible. Believe in Him and trust Him. 

Wings as Eagles

Hey friends, while readying in the bible this week for my religion class, I came across one of my favorite scriptures. I saw this scripture hanging in one of my only mission apartments, but I never knew/could remember the reference for it. But hey! Here it showed up again in my assigned readings. So, it's found in Isaiah 40:31 and it says...

"But they that wait upon the Lord

shall renew their strength; they shall

mount up with wings as eagles; they shall

run and not be weary; and they shall walk and

not faint."

Seriously, such a beautiful scripture. I love the imagery in this verse. The idea that listening to and following God with give us strength and the ability to mount up as eagle! Glorious. When I read this verse, I get a liberating feeling. I feel God's love and I feel that I have a great potential in this life. The best path is on the path following our Heavenly Father. 

So, I hope you all have a chance to ponder this verse. What does mounting up with wings as eagles mean to you? God loves you and wants the best for you. His plan is for your happiness. 

Until next time!