Sunday Series: The Ways of the Lord

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)

The Lord truly works in mysterious ways. 

I've been having a rough time with some stuff lately, just stupid things (seriously dumb) but they've been giving me trouble. Today in church, I was able to hear what I needed to.

I heard the message "God will help you through this"

"Even if you feel you're stuck in a rut, you're still changing."

"God is always there."

I also heard "Study your scriptures and say your prayers" - something I've been slacking on lately.

"Take care of yourself physically as well" - like get enough sleep? What a foreign concept! 

So basically I first heard words of comfort and encouragement and then words of advice. It really helped make my day better. I was able to be in a better mood for the rest of the day, which was a good thing. That's not to say I was completely at peace, or felt totally better- I was still off and fairly grumpy. But it was better, and I have a plan now to get back on track.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I find it profound how He works through others. Who would've thought that so many testimonies could be about kind of the same thing? Or share messages I needed? Who would've thought that the Sunday School lesson could be on the very things that I've been slacking on all week? That is how He works. It is wonderful to me that He was able to take something so normal, something like fast and testimony meeting, Sunday School, and out Relief Society lesson, to comfort me and guide me.

I also find it wonderful the order in which I heard these things. First it was the comfort, the words of love and care. Then it was that which I already knew - the lack of sleep has been affecting my mood a lot. Then, after that, it was those things I've been failing to acknowledge- the things that I have to get back on. It wasn't accusatory at all, but a gentle affirmation that the Lord cares and that if I do these certain things, it'll get me back on my mental feet, so to speak, and I can be myself again (because who truly is themselves when they're grumpy and depressed?). 

The Lord works in wonderful ways.

Many are beyond our understanding. But we can try to emulate them and become more like our Father. We can grow in understanding that He loves us and would only do what's best, even if it sometimes hurts us. He has a grander plan for us than we can ever see with our limited mortal eyes. He is God and He is with us. He loves us first, and guides us always, and that never changes.