Let me share some comments from this week from different people:
– I’ve been trying to overcome this masturbation and porn problem for several years now. I’ve read the books. I’ve been to the meetings. I’ve tried my hardest. I just can’t do it. I’ve tried everything.
– We’ve been to marriage counselors, we’ve talked to bishops and stake presidents, nothing has worked. I even tried my own ideas. When I see my husband all I experience is poison-hate resentment. We’ve tried everything.
– I just wish I was dead. I can’t keep going on like this. The medicine doesn’t work. I have no energy. I’ve been to every doctor and they don’t know what to do either. I’ve tried everything.
My response:
YES – there are some life-challenges that you will not overcome on your own.
NO – you haven’t tried everything.
There comes a point in each of our lives that we’ll face our personal “bitter cup” – a life challenge bigger than our personal resources can manage. A time when circumstances go beyond our control and our lives become unmanageable -and without a miracle we are doomed 🙁
“The truth is, ‘when the very jaws of hell gape open the mouth wide after [us]’ (see D&C 122:7), turning to the Lord helps develop in us a kind of spirituality that can be gained only in extremity. That spirituality is necessary to our salvation.” (Robert D. Hales, “Return: Four Phases of Our Mortal Journey Home”)
THE POWER OF GOD
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
“In the strength of the Lord we can do all things.” (Alma 20:4)
Therefore:God is supreme, having power over ALL things. No one or no force or happening can frustrate or prevent Him from accomplishing His designs. (See: D&C 3:1-3)
LET GO AND LET GOD
Whatever our personal bitter cup – we know with assurance that our Father in Heaven never intended to leave us to ourselves when life gets tough. He is able to make those things work for our good, if we will let go and let Him.
God can change our minds and hearts. He can change our views and attitudes. He can change our appetites and refine our passions. He can change feelings that we sometimes can’t help feeling if we are left on our own without another perspective. He can cause us to see things in new and different ways. He can heal emotional wounds as well as psychological trauma and spiritual scars. There is no heart he cannot heal. There is no problem he cannot solve. There is no sickness he cannot cure. There is no wound he cannot bind up.
Think about it…
If God exists and is all powerful why wouldn’t you want to put him in charge of your toughest problems?
Makes perfect sense to me. But yet what do we do….
You take your kids-your most precious gift – to the baby sitter or daycare. You drop them off and you drive away.
You’ll go to marriage counseling listen to some “almost stranger” tell you how to solve your marriage problems. And even try to do what s/he says.
You’ll go to the doctors. Some guy you hardly even know is going to “put you out”-With some % risk of dying. And let them cut on you.
You’ll read a 100 books, go to 100 meetings, worry about it, stay awake about it, talk to the bishop and anyone else that will listen to “fight your addiction” or “your need to control” or ‘”your anger and resentment” or “your habit of blaming”—Hundreds of hours and years of your life. With continued failure.
SURRENDERING
The most powerful treasure of the eternities “Let go and let God” but yet it is rarely applied in today’s world.
“Come unto me,” the Lord pleaded, “all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
The most powerful treasure in psychology. Part of the strategy to “Let go and let God” is learning to surrender, that’s right GIVE-UP YOU CANNOT FIX THIS ONE!
“I want you to know that what we’re talking about is real. This is not just ‘Wouldn’t it be nice?’ but something that can be done. Let me tell you how. The key is found in one word, and the word is surrender. Now, some people are used to being tough and strong, and they feel that surrendering is not something you should do very often. But we’re not talking about surrendering to a human being….” (Henry B. Eyring; “Surrender to Christ” To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses; pg. 106)
President David O. McKay said that “human nature can be changed, here and now…You do change human nature, your own human nature, if you surrender it to Christ. ….” (As quoted in Ezra Taft Benson, “Born of God,” Ensign, July 1989)
Perhaps Neal A. Maxwell says it best:
(Sorry for yelling! But all the red large letters represent such an eternal powerful principle I just feel like I can’t say it loud enough.)
And why wouldn’t an all powerful God intervene and help His children?
Remember how much he loves you. (See: God Loves You THIS MUCH!)
When you let go and let God help… miracles happen. And some of you need a miracle.
CHALLENGE
Made a decision to turn (surrender) your will and your life over to the care of God….
Begin by identifying one personal problem that is just tooooo much for you to handle.
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27
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