Sundays are always a great day for reflection, aren't they? Sundays for me are my release day. I tend to bottle things up throughout the week, and Sunday is my time to let everything go and sort through the messes I tend to get myself into.
Today, as I think about my life, I am partly in awe that I have gotten this far but also discouraged, wondering why am I not further in this journey I am currently traveling.
I dedicate this post to those, like me, who may be discouraged at times with reoccurring battles, sometimes resulting in the inability to look forward in faith.
My mother referenced a talk today in church, "Remember Lot's Wife," by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. At first, I didn't think twice about this reference, but as I listened to the words of Elder Holland, I realized, this cycle I am living is a result of me acting like Lot's wife.
For those who don't know the story of Lot's wife, I will retell a short, concise (very humble) version.
Her destruction came as a direct result--not speaking of disobedience or sin-- of her inability to have faith for a brighter future.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
I absolutely love this! It's all about faith. Faith to change. Faith to learn from the past and MOVE ON. No more negative labels (whether they are vocally stated or just internalized silently). The beautiful aspect of the Atonement is allowing for room to change and grow.
Today, as I think about my life, I am partly in awe that I have gotten this far but also discouraged, wondering why am I not further in this journey I am currently traveling.
I dedicate this post to those, like me, who may be discouraged at times with reoccurring battles, sometimes resulting in the inability to look forward in faith.
My mother referenced a talk today in church, "Remember Lot's Wife," by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. At first, I didn't think twice about this reference, but as I listened to the words of Elder Holland, I realized, this cycle I am living is a result of me acting like Lot's wife.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
-George Santayana
For those who don't know the story of Lot's wife, I will retell a short, concise (very humble) version.
In the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord commanded Lot and his family to flee these wicked cities that were soon to be destroyed, asking them never to look back. With a less than enthusiastic response, Lot and his family eventually left the city, just in time, avoiding the rained brimstone and fire that resulted in the cities' destruction.
Against the Lord's commandments, Lot's wife looked back to the cities, turning her into a pillar of salt.
Her destruction came as a direct result--not speaking of disobedience or sin-- of her inability to have faith for a brighter future.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
"The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. So a more theological way to talk about Lot’s wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently she thought—fatally, as it turned out—that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind."
I absolutely love this! It's all about faith. Faith to change. Faith to learn from the past and MOVE ON. No more negative labels (whether they are vocally stated or just internalized silently). The beautiful aspect of the Atonement is allowing for room to change and grow.
"To yearn to go back to a world that cannot be lived in now; to be perennially dissatisfied with present circumstances and have only dismal views of the future; to miss the here-and-now-and-tomorrow because we are so trapped in the there-and-then-and-yesterday—these are some of the sins, if we may call them that, of...Lot’s wife."
So between you and me, let's take the good from the past, learn from the bad, and make way for a brighter future. No more negativity and being debilitated by the inability to change and progress.
To all such of every generation, I call out, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come.”
Be brave and live for today!
