Weak things become strong

 

"the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings personal strength to the lives of the children of God. "

 
"And if men come unto me I will show unto 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." Ether 12:27
 
This is my FAVORITE SCRIPTURE. My brother Jordan and I are the youngest of five.we lived in the home with just my parents and us for a few years, we became really great friends in that time, then he went on a mission. I was 15 when he left and IT WAS HARD. My brother jordy helped me through all the little girl high school drama in my life. I was going through what I thought was the end of the world my senior year... when I emailed him and asked for advice. I can't remember what his email said but he told me to read Ether 12:27 It has been five years since he shared that scripture with me and it is one that I go to often.
 
As we go to the Lord and ask he will show us our weaknesses. He gives us weakness so that we will rely on him, so that we can remain close to his son and remember our dependence on the atonement. If we are humble and filled with Faith, His grace is ENOUGH to make those weaknesses become strong.
 
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."Alma 26
 
A lot of the time when I think of the Atonement I think of repentance, and forgiveness.. which is HUGE. However.. I want to focus on the enabling power in the Atonement. The power that helps us to become more than what we are. The power that helps us to reach great heights. The ability to reach our potential.
 
We aren't expected to be perfect in our lives, we are expected to give it our best. In my past, and in the now.. I tend to get really hard on myself. Being a missionary we have a set schedule each day we are to stick to. Just like at home when I had a job, we are expected to be on time with this schedule and we are held accountable to the Lord.
 
I am going to share a weakness of mine with you. MORNING TIME. My family can second this. I like to stay up late and sleep all day. I am like a kitten. I love to eat, and I love to sleep. Here on the mission we are expected to wake up at 6:30 each morning and exercise for 30 minutes to get the blood moving, then we study for an hour on our own to get our spirits moving.
 
This is usually how the morning goes:
warning alarm it's 6:15 beep beep beep........ SNOOZE! 6:20.. BEEEP BEEEEP BEEEP... SNOOZE!!! 6:25....... BEEEEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEP.. Roll out of bed.. kneeling... back asleep.... 6:30... BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEEP BEEEP! FINEEEE I AM AWAKE. Say a prayer... wrap up in a blanket and stumble to the living room.. plop on the floor with my famous morning time face mean mug... stretch... roll around and grumble... lift weight.. once.. lift weight with other arm.. annnd switch... now lay on the floor and stretch some more.. I AM EXHAUSTED.. IS IT BED TIME YET!? You get the point... For some days.... my biggest accomplishment is getting out of bed. My knees hit the floor and my day begins with prayer. Usually a prayer begging for energy and strength to survive the day!
 
Some times... I am super sick, up all night in pain. or just not sleeping because my body thinks it's time to party... 6:30 comes to soon and i struggle to get up... some times... When I am praying I fall back asleep when the alert in my head goes of *SISTER CARLSON, SISTER CARLSON... ATTENTION.. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER* and by the time the alarm in my subconscious sounds.. it's 6:35... late.
 
"The joyful news for anyone who desires to be rid of the consequences of past poor choices is that the Lord sees weaknesses differently than He does rebellion. "
 
That is when the atonement steps in... When I give my best to wake up, to pray and to ask for strength, I CAN CONQUER THE MORNING.. Not only do I over come the morning.. but I make it through the day, WITH a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
 
When your own strength is no longer enough.. seek after the divine helping hand of our savior.
 

 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Alma 7

 

The savior has felt your weaknesses, he has felt your temptations, and guess what... HE NEVER GAVE IN! Why did he feel these things? Because it was necessary for him to in order to know how to succor us to help, aid, give assistance or to rescue. To rescue us from our own selves at times.

 

 "Many of us have allowed weakness to develop in our character. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can build spiritual fortifications between ourselves and any past mistakes that Satan attempts to exploit."
 
Don't let your weaknesses become an excuse. I have had an interesting past with some interesting friendships and relationships that have been some what toxic.. That have cut me down and made me feel like I am less than deserving of anything that is good at times. It caused me to cut people out of my life, to build walls, to become hardened and to lack compassion. It was my excuse to not let people into my world, to see me. I put up my best mask and would only let people see my surface. I was in a sense like a turtle. What lived in my shell.. stayed in my shell.. I WAS GOOFY 24/7 My conversations were the top of the ice burg... Beneath this person I was hiding there was soo much more. I was fearful to show that, I was scared that if I did I would be laughed at cut down and shut out. I didn't know how to over come this. I was suffocated and lost in my weaknesses.. To speak to any one I didn't know caused me to choke on my own words, to turn red in the face, sweaty palms and awkward giggles.
 

 

So how did I over come this?? I came on a mission. my mission has been my purification process. My opportunity to let go of the past, to let go of the heart ache of weaknesses. To break free of my own personal chains I was binding my self in.
 

 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 16

 
 " fill your life with service to others. As you lose your life in the service of Father in Heaven’s children, Satan’s temptations lose power in your life."

Granted, I am still not the most... socially smooth person, I tend to say things at times that make perfect sense in my head but no sense out loud, I snort when I laugh, I am either blunt, or reserved, my palms still get sweaty when I speak in front of large groups, when I get nervous I talk in rapid speed and ramble about things that don't make sense. But guess what!

I no longer let these things hold me back, I no longer use them as an excuse.. I no longer say "I am this way because" With the Savior I have broken the chains which once held me bound.

I am not afraid to speak up, if we never speak up we will never know what can be, by never letting go and letting Christ in we miss out on opportunities, when we let fear rule our lives we miss the privileges to reach divine potential.

I am not afraid to be who I am and to let those I love in. I am not afraid to love who I am anymore.

I love myself because I am me. I might be crazy. I might be awkward. I might say to much and I might not say enough. But because I have Jesus Christ everything I do or don't do can be made right as I continue in trying. As I push through.

Because of Jesus Christ my weak points will eventually be strong. Because of My brother, My savior, and my King I will be made perfect through my imperfections. I will be able to over come myself I will be able to let go of what hurts, and replace it with peace. Those things that have caused you to shut down, to give in to let go and give up... They can all be washed away and replaced with learning, new knowledge, strengths we weren't aware of and they will bless the lives around you. As we over come weakness, we become a help for those trying to over come similar trials in their lives.

Jesus Christ is the way.

"And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."Mosiah 3

 

 

 

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." Mosiah 16

 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

 

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

If ye have faith ye can do all things

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.