One of my favorite scriptures (If that's even a thing because they are all great, yeah?) is Ether 12:27. This is a more common and well-known one. But I want to invite you to read each word and each line slowly and understand the meaning more deeply... "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
One time in particular was when I experienced what this scripture exactly meant. Not just emotionally and mentally, but quite physically as well. Just this past summer was when I felt that I was at the lowest of lows. As some of you lovely readers know, I had been clinically diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression at that point. I don't speak of this lightly because I know and I have family members that know it is something that is so horrible to deal with. I was doing everything I possibly could... I was reading my scriptures, praying day in and day out (more times than I could count), I was receiving numerous priesthood blessings, and still... I was struggling. I had lost 10 pounds in one week because I physically could not eat. The thought of food made me nauseous. Each bite I took, I had to force it down so that I could keep any little nutrition that I had, inside. The simple subconscious task of walking became hard. I didn't want to get out of bed. I would find my shoulders hunched over all the time and my fists were always in tight balls. I was on edge constantly. To put it simply... I was weak. Weak in every sense of the word. During our trials it is sometimes so so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We want to give up and be done with it all, because we don't think it will get better. But I have a secret... It does. Maybe not in our time table or as fast as we want it to, but we just have to have the patience (as excruciating as it might be at times) to keep enduring. During this period of my mental, emotional, and physical weakness I began to notice and feel my Heavenly Father's and Savior's love for me so strongly that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that they were in fact there. They heard every prayer (no matter how clumsy), and they made sure I knew that they loved me with every priesthood blessing I received. After I escaped this fog of despair, I began to understand why I went through what I did. I learned patience, empathy, and I learned how to love and see others through God's eyes. It will be hard to understand why we have the challenges that we do, but when we get to the point where we do understand... it will make sense. Our weaknesses will truly become our greatest strengths. I love each of you and hope that you all are having a beautiful Sunday! Ness
2 Comments
Anne Tidball
2/21/2016 04:04:00 pm
Beautiful post Vanessa! Thanks for the great reminder. You are such a great example of strength and endurance. That scripture has helped me a lot too. The promise is true!
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Ness
2/21/2016 06:47:49 pm
Thank you so much!!💓 You are so sweet.
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Ponderize Of The Week:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." - James 1:5-6 Quote Of The Week:
"Give it to God and go to sleep." - Unknown |