This past Sunday, while I was listening to the sacrament meeting talks. I had a thought come to mind
"Replace the "If" with "With Him"
This is what I got out of those words
When we're afraid of failure, we're swarmed with thoughts of "What ifs" What if I fail this test. what if my plans don't work out, I want to do this thing, but what if?..." What if I don't get accepted into this school.
This can involved fear of standing up for your beliefs. "What happens if I tell my friends I won't watch that movie?" "What happens if I say no to friends who want me to drink"
Sometimes it can be a scary thing to stand up for your beliefs.
We can't live by fear, we need to live by faith and not fear.
We need to trust in Him, when we trust in Him, our fear goes away, because we rely on Him to help us.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." - Isaiah 10:41
How many times have we gone through hardships, of having fear be there, but not Him?
In 2009 and 2010 I went through this experience of having fear, but replacing it and trusting in Him.
I went to this Youth Conference in Walla Walla, Washington (The Triple W's haha)
I was 16 (It was in March, I turned 17 in May), you were paired up into random groups once you got there, I was worry/afraid of that because from past experiences I did not like meeting new people, I was not accepting of Aspergers then, I only had very few friends from the ward.
On the way there, I'm pretty sure I said a prayer and asked if everything will be okay and I'll be in a group with someone I knew. Once we got there and were paired up into groups, I was in the red group with my friend Spencer. There were a lot of youth there, a couple of stakes and what were the odds of me being in the same group as Spencer?, he was the only one in my ward who was in my group. We pretty much just stayed together during the conference
This other experience of my first time going to EFY in 2009, I had just turned 16 not that long ago, I was worry and afraid of going there because I didn't knew anyone etc, so I said a prayer and turned out, my counselor was a guy I knew from my ward. so again.. what were the odds of that with having a lot of groups and 400+ youth there, that I was in his group?
I had fun in that group, there were some things that weren't so good in that group, but hey you can't win them all, can you?
A few years ago I wrote this poem about replacing fear with faith. In my option it is not one of my best poems, but it's still a good one I suppose.
I don't know what to do
Fear have taken a hold of me
I need a way to pull through
The fear need to flee
Replace the fear with faith
by this small and simple phrase
With faith I know I'll be safe
My Heavenly Father watching over me
I need to let go of fear
and live by faith
with fear, I am worried
with faith, I see the truth
Replace the fear with faith...
Replace it
Look to God and live
Do it
Live it.
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I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust" - Psalms 91:2
“I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, ‘Why?’ I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.”
—Russell M. Nelson, "Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,"
If during that Youth Conference I was not in the same group with Spencer, I'm sure Heavenly Father would of had another way to make me feel welcomed and loved, He would of noticed my prayer, he would of had me in a group with someone who be easy to talk to and get to know.
This is a great talk A Time For Faith Not Fear by Elder Larry W. Gibbons
And this is a great Mormon Message video.
Endure to the end, stay strong in the Gospel and you won't regret it
