Overcoming

My thoughts as Mr Smith and I read through "The Miracle of Forgiveness"

I think we make a lot of excuses and justifications for not becoming our best selves. I think we want to sugarcoat our efforts but inevitably put off our shortcomings as a natural part of life. Not because they aren't, but because we aren't ready to change them. It is probably worse if we refuse to recognize weaknesses as something to overcome. However, we really want those closest to us to do that very same thing.

We like being comfortable and maybe that is the biggest hurdle for many of us. When life becomes uncomfortable, we don't evaluate it as life going according to plan - quite the contrary. We want to go back to comfortable as quickly as possible, but maybe we should recognize it as our chance to grow, become stronger...to become worthy of greater blessings. And maybe, just maybe we should even encourage the uncomfortable. We may call these uncomfortable times as trials, inconveniences or bad luck, depending on the severity. Either way, I think we do ourselves a disservice by waiting out the storm or wishing it away.

The storm is why we are here. Life is about learning. Christ's gospel is a gospel of learning towards perfection. "Perfection really comes from overcoming". Overcoming weaknesses and heartaches are how we learn and how we grow to become like God and be worthy of all He has to offer. Between the "tests" of life or just our day to day weaknesses, we have to be willing to step up to the bar that Christ set for us.

If we think of it as unattainable, then we don't have faith in God and His plan. He wouldn't require something we couldn't reach. We can reach eventual perfection. But we won't if we arent trying with all our might, mind & strength right now to live the commandments. We won't if we aren't willing to take on higher commitments and face the storms. Unfortunately, Satan knows where He can keep our heads down and slowly lead us into that dark waste. But our spirits are capable of overcoming our weaknesses because we have bodies, not inspite of. Now is our best chance to prove ourselves capable of  self-discipline and complete discipleship.

Becoming great is not comfortable and it is not easy. It is something that we have to work at daily. Which is why our excuses matter. We can't afford to negate our covenants in the slightest. We can't afford to drive away the spirit. We can't afford to give up and let self pity reign. When we do fall, we just have to reach to Christ to gain back our footing, but WE have to reach up and take hold.

The best way to know the gospel is true as well as overcome our weaknesses and/or sins, the hardships, etc... is to live it... to depend on it. To attend church meetings, partake of the sacrament, magnify callings, serve as much as possible, teach and preach of Christ to our families, pray often, study the scriptures often, to keep the standards and live all the commandments, is to keep us alive in Christ and to give us the strength we need to overcome. And we can't afford to ignore a single one. Living the gospel brings us true and everlasting joy. But no, it won't be easy to earn everlasting joy.