6.20.16

Hello y'all!

So this week has been a bit humbling. Or at least that is a nice way
to put it. A lot of things fell through. Not much happened. Not
exactly a fun week. But they do need to happen. I definitely learned
from it.
My favorite part was Sunday. In a few different parts of church I was
just writing answers to my questions throughout the week. It was
interesting how it all came together. Here is one note: "God does not
intend for all of us to be as successful as each other. For that
matter he doesn't intend us to compare anyways. He intends us to have
different levels of results. This is to help us learn what we need to
know. It is to help us with our own individual growth. It is also to
help us know what we need to focus on. He has given us weaknesses for
a reason. And that reason isn't for us to to wallow in our inadequacy.
That is not his intention in any way at all! If he wanted us to be
miserable then we would all know what true misery is, none of us would
escape that. Instead of wanting that for us, he wants us to have joy.
But how are we to have joy in the weaknesses he has given us? We
aren't. Plain and simple. We are to have joy in overcoming our
weaknesses through his strength. That is where we are to find joy. As
we rely on him wholly and completely we will obtain his joy. Which is
the greatest of all joys. That is when our joy is truly full."
I definitely have a testimony of my Heavenly Father's love. And when
he is guiding me like that is when I feel his love the most.
Our stake president, who happens to live in our ward, gave a talk
yesterday and something he said was really powerful. "The feelings you
are having of not being enough, are not from God." Simple, powerful,
truth. God would have us find joy and happiness in his strength.
One other thing that God taught me is all about relying on him. "How
much are you going to rely on the Lord? Because whatever that answer
is, is how much He relies on us. If you are going to rely on him
wholly, he will wholly rely on us. If we hold back, he holds back. If
we want to be able to accomplish the things he wants us to, we have to
rely on him. There isn't an option there. If we are going to
accomplish the things the Lord wants us to, we absolutely have to,
rely on him."

It's pretty important to rely on the Lord. That is certain.

Elder Dane Olsen