A friend of mine is going through some overwhelming struggles right now and questioned whether her faith was strong enough to withstand the pain of it all and still remain “anxiously engaged in a good cause.”
As I prayed for words to comfort and reassure my friend, this is what came to me. The great thing is, writing this helped me to better understand for myself how God wants me to respect the lessons and challenges I face as well.
Dear friend,
I’ve been wondering how you were, and I’m sorry I haven’t reached out better to you. You have been in my prayers. I understand how physical pain as well as life stress can suck all the motivation to do anything or to face the world.
I think that the idea of being “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27) is sometimes misunderstood. It has to be balanced with “it is not requisite to run faster than you have strength.” (Mosiah 4:27) Sometimes the best we can do is be minimally engaged.
It’s okay.
It’s okay to be the woman overborn with a flow of blood (or pain) and need time to seek rest and healing (a mighty endeavor itself). Sometimes being anxiously engaged looks like reaching for the hem of the Savior’s clothing.
It’s enough. Just keep reaching.
And keep writing thoughts about your reading. I have had so many days that I’ve felt like I accomplished nothing, but when I read and search for something meaningful that I can write or share with someone else, Heavenly Father blesses me with the reassurance that I’ve done what matters most.
Weathering The Journey 