9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my aways bhigher than your ways, and my cthoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9)The picture above is of Eli helping us put together the new cube shelf for his room. He was pretty sure that screwing in the screws was a three tool job, hammer it a little, brush it off with the cleaning brush, then use the screwdriver, until he felt he needed to go back to one of the other two tools to help it along a little. Turns out though, he's actually really good with a screwdriver. But, what really got me thinking about the scripture above first wasn't when Eli had a different view on how to use tools, it was the other night when I was putting him to sleep. I had sung to Eli and then told him I was going downstairs and that I would check on him in a little while. I got caught up with some housework and watching a show with Josh, so I didn't get back up there for a little while to check on him, hoping he would have put himself to sleep. When I did get back up there, he started asking me if I ever go to work in another building (I work from home) and if I get lost, in the end it turns out in poor little Eli's mind Mommy could only have taken so long to get back because she had to go to work, and it must have been somewhere outside of home where she got lost, and so here the poor boy was worried the whole time that his Mother just didn't know how to get back to him. I obviously reassured him that I had been downstairs the whole time, and he could have come out to find me anytime if he needed me.
It got me thinking about that verse above. Sometimes life isn't working out how we thought it would or things just aren't as planned. When we try to explain it ourselves, I feel like our answers are often about as close as Eli's was for why I hadn't come back up. For one thing, we start assuming the worst, we start thinking maybe somehow we are lost or forgotten, when He has already told us "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Isaiah 49:16) and "Are not two asparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very ahairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more avalue than many bsparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)
I know I often just don't see the bigger picture very well. I really like how Elder Bednar put it in his talk about tithing when he said:
Often
as we teach and testify about the law of tithing, we emphasize the
immediate, dramatic, and readily recognizable temporal blessings that we
receive. And surely such blessings do occur. Yet some of the diverse
blessings we obtain as we are obedient to this commandment are
significant but subtle. Such blessings can be discerned only if we are
both spiritually attentive and observant (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).
The
imagery of the “windows” of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive.
Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner,
spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the
windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing.
For example, a subtle but significant blessing we receive is the spiritual gift of gratitude
that enables our appreciation for what we have to constrain desires for
what we want. A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful
person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment (see Luke 12:15).
We may need and pray for help to find suitable employment. Eyes and ears of faith (see Ether 12:19)
are needed, however, to recognize the spiritual gift of enhanced
discernment that can empower us to identify job opportunities that many
other people might overlook—or the blessing of greater personal
determination to search harder and longer for a position than other
people may be able or willing to do. We might want and expect a job
offer, but the blessing that comes to us through heavenly windows may be
greater capacity to act and change our own circumstances rather than
expecting our circumstances to be changed by someone or something else.
We
may appropriately desire and work to receive a pay raise in our
employment to better provide the necessities of life. Eyes and ears of
faith are required, however, to notice in us an increased spiritual and
temporal capacity (see Luke 2:52)
to do more with less, a keener ability to prioritize and simplify, and
an enhanced ability to take proper care of the material possessions we
already have acquired. We might want and expect a larger paycheck, but
the blessing that comes to us through heavenly windows may be greater
capacity to change our own circumstances rather than expecting our
circumstances to be changed by someone or something else.
The stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon (see Alma 53; 56–58)
prayed earnestly that God would strengthen and deliver them out of the
hands of their enemies. Interestingly, the answers to these prayers did
not produce additional weapons or an increased number of troops.
Instead, God granted these faithful warriors assurance that He would
deliver them, peace to their souls, and great faith and hope for their
deliverance in Him (see Alma 58:11).
Thus, the sons of Helaman did take courage, were fixed with a
determination to conquer, and did go forth with all of their might
against the Lamanites (see Alma 58:12–13).
Assurance, peace, faith, and hope initially might not seem like the
blessings warriors in battle might want, but they were precisely the
blessings these valiant young men needed to press forward and prevail
physically and spiritually.
Sometimes
we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental
stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged
perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are
blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and
confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for
relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may
increase our resolve and resilience.
I
promise that as you and I observe and keep the law of tithing, indeed
the windows of heaven will be opened and spiritual and temporal
blessings will be poured out such that there shall not be room enough to
receive them (see Malachi 3:10). We also will remember the Lord’s declaration:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
I
testify that as we are spiritually attentive and observant, we will be
blessed with eyes that see more clearly, ears that hear more
consistently, and hearts that understand more fully the significance and
subtlety of His ways, His thoughts, and His blessings in our lives.
That's a bigger section than I normally copy, but I liked all of his examples. I think it can be hard to honestly stop and pray to see the blessings in our lives when we feel so disappointed by not getting what we thought should happen. It is difficult to overcome those feelings, but I know that if you pray to ask to see the Lord's hand, then try to stay close to the Spirit He shows you. I feel like it's okay to tell you this story, so I'm going to share it, all of my life I had planned on serving a Church Service Mission. At the time, girls who wanted to serve missions could do so starting at the age of 21. Almost exactly 6 months before I turned 21, I was diagnosed with cancer. I have never smoked, drunk alcohol, I walked to and from school up tons of stairs, so it's not like I was completely out of shape. It's just one of those things that happened. On my 21st birthday instead of turning in my mission papers I was tatooed for so that I would be able to start the radiation treatment that was the follow up for the chemo I had been going through the months prior. I remember just before that there was an adult session of a stake conference where someone spoke about the need for missionaries and he talked about how those who were able should just get up and go, and I nearly broke completely at how sad I was that it wasn't in my plan now. But, as I prayed, I remembered feelings of the Spirit asking me if I would really be willing to serve wherever the Lord called me, even if it was a really hard mission. And yes I would. During my time going through treatment, I was able to serve in the Relief Society Presidency for my Young Single Adult group. Even on days when I should not have had energy to complete my assignments, I was blessed to be able to do it. I was blessed to have good people around me to support me. The Lord called me on a mission. I was able to help the missionaries in our area, and work with the young adults. I was on the mission The Lord called me to, even if I didn't send in any papers or get a letter back, it didn't matter because the point of a mission is to serve where the Lord would have you to serve.
Even in less dramatic ways, sometimes even as a trial hits, I have been able to be blessed to see how I was prepared for it. Recently, as I am want to do, I locked my keys in the car, really they were Josh's keys, and the other set we are guessing are in the coat pocket of the coat that I left at the church building last Sunday, so these were the only car keys right now. So, I called and rejoined AAA, because doing that and sameday service request is about the same as paying a locksmith and this way I can lock my keys in the car 4 more times this year for free, and as I was about to lament the cost, the Spirit reminded me of the last weekend. We were a few hours late getting our form in to apply for a child care subsitiy through the school, and had almost decided we just had to call it a loss, but we called and the nice person there said they would still accept it. They thought it might take longer to process, but almost right away we got accepted, and the amount we had been rewarded was just almost just as much as I had to pay to get the keys out. And I just felt the Spirit say, "See Jenna, I know your weaknesses, and that you are trying. I'm here to help make up the difference." I may not always understand how or why things are the way they are, but it is comforting to know that God does. And it is awing and wonderful to know that with all He is and all He can do He has said: "this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)
I'm learning to trust Him more. Just like all I really wanted was for Eli to learn the valuable skill of putting himself to sleep, sometimes He's just trying to help me out and wants me to keep trying, knowing He's there to support me and help me when I need.
Posts
