I Give You Weaknesses

I love having this blog, and I am grateful for any influence for good it makes on others. I know any influence I owe to God alone and not to myself, for He is the one who has given me everything I have. He has given me talents and experiences and strengths with which to bless others, and I am so so grateful that I am able to be a tool in His hands in even some small and simple way. But God doesn't only use our strengths to bless others.

I think God uses our weaknesses to bless others, sometimes even more than our strengths.

How often have you heard something that someone is struggling with and felt a relief or comfort because it is something that you're going through too? How often have you found out that someone who seems to always have it together is human and makes mistakes? Does this diminish how highly you think of that person? I sure hope not. I hope it makes you appreciate that we all are here to grow, that we are all on the slow trek to perfection together, that not one of us is above the other.

Everyone has weaknesses. Learn from them. 

Strengthen each other through them. 

Love each other in spite of, or better yet, because of, them.

Ether 12:27 in the Book of Mormon says "And if men come unto me I will show them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

You are supposed to have weaknesses. Be grateful for them.

Anytime God has made me aware of my weaknesses, I have never felt worthless or inadequate. God allows you to acknowledge your weaknesses as places that can be made strong through the grace of God and through a little work and faith on your part. However, anytime the world has made me aware of my weaknesses, I have felt worthless and inadequate. Satan would have you believe that your weaknesses are permanent imperfections that prevent you from being who you need to be.

This is a complete lie.

Weaknesses are not incapacitating. They are not patches of quicksand preventing you from reaching your divine potential. They are not mistakes.

Weaknesses are key elements in God's plan for you. They are there as part of a path to perfection. They are there to lead you to Christ.

Allow Christ into your life. He has already paid the price for every mistake, every shortcoming, every weakness. All you have to do is repent and accept his Atonement and his grace.

Give yourself to God, and He will make you strong.

I can be impatient. Sometimes I throw a pity party (complete with lots of ice cream) instead of doing something about my problems. I can lash out at those I love. Sometimes I hide all of my emotions and don't ask for help when I need it. I can hold onto things God has told me to let go. Sometimes I eat frosting out of the can with a spoon (but we all do that, right?...right?).

My point is, we all have weaknesses or things we need to work on. I am grateful for every single one of mine, for every crack in my armor is a place God can let His light in.