Sunday, October 19, 2008

Weaknesses: Turning unhealthy desires to good

“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

DESIRE, CRAVING, LONGING, YEARNING, HANKERING, APPETITE, THIRST, WANT

All my actions are ultimately driven by something far more base, elementary. Even my grandest and most altruistic efforts come from some basic desire. Our proclivities, our desires are all blessings. Right? Even the destructive appetites?

We are told our weaknesses will make us strong. It is not through our own efforts, however, that we gain this strength. It is only through our petitions to our Savior and through our faith that our weaknesses become our strengths.

When I consider some of the more damaging passions that embroil my soul, I am left wondering what good could come of this!! What am I left to consider when my passions are so strongly contrary to the things of God?

3 comments:

Th. said...

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I think it's probably perspective. God may not be contrary to as many things as we imagine.

necrodancer said...

Those things that lead us astray, no matter how they might affect others, is contrary to God's will. Certainly, you're correct. We do not have the perspective necessary to truly understand everything so we're left to making decisions based on what we do understand. Our perspective weakens our ability to reason properly.

“Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.” – 2 Nephi 4:17

Even the great Nephi was burdened by what he perceived as his weaknesses.

We are left to wonder: At what point is our perspective so much more stringent than our Savior's. How do we overcome our own hypercritical selves?

Th. said...

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Good questions.

Oh, that I had good answers.