Fear vs. Faith

This week was full of some great things:

 

- Elder Corbridge, from the  First Quorum or the Seventy came and spoke to us for about 5 hours. It was bliss.

 

- We were able to get in with a family who has been totally unresponsive to the church for months now. When our bishop found out we were able to see them, he almost had a heart attack.

 

- The elders in our area gave us one of their investigators to start teaching. This lady is INCREDIBLE. She has been diagnosed with Leukimia and has been given a year. She is so strong. I feel so privileged to be able to work with her.

 

- We went to an apartment that had so many cockroaches, I felt like I was experiencing a day in the life of Indiana Jones. Cockroaches climbing up my legs? You can check that off the list of things that I've had happen.

 

- We've been handing out a lot of pass-a-long cards and invitations to our church for these past three weeks, with no results. On Saturday morning at about 7:30, we get a call from a lady telling us she wants us to come to her house and start teaching her, and that she has been looking for a church and she wants to come to ours! It was so unexpected and so worth all of the knocking that we have been doing.

 

- The husband of one of the recent converts sat in for part of our lesson! He is a non-member who doesn't have any interest in the church, so this was a huge deal!

 

- Our ward had it's primary program. Little kids singing in Spanish was probably the cutest thing that I have ever seen!

 

I feel like the luckiest person alive. I am so blessed to be serving here in Houston, with the incredible people who constantly teach and strengthen me.

 

One thing that we have been really trying to focus on with investigators and members is faith. Faith is everything. Life throws us all sorts of curveballs. Most of the time, things do not go as we would want them to. When we focus our eyes on Jesus Christ, we will be able to overcome all that we must face. When we replace our FEAR with FAITH, we will be triumphet.

 

In Mathew 14, we learn about when Jesus walks on water and invites Peter to as well.....

24- But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25- And in‍ the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26- And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27- But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28- And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29- And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30- But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31- And immediately Jesus stretched forth his‍ hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didstthou doubt?
32- And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Much like Peter, it easy for us to forget in whom we have trusted. A lot of times, our lives are a lot like the ship on the stormy sea. When we only focus on the winds and the waves, we are more likely to sink and fall. Jesus Christ has extended his hand toward all of us. He is there and ready to help us overcome everything good and bad that we experience, and when we fall, He too will catch us. We only need to trust Him.

Faith in Jesus Christ.

During these past four months, I have learned some of the greatest lessons of my life. I am so blessed to be serving in a ward right now, where the people are continually teaching me by their examples and by their faith. As we have continued to get to know the members in this area, we have found out a lot of the struggles and challenges that they all face.

One woman lives in a situation where her life is totally controlled, yet she still manages to look for the good in life. In fact, during our whole visit with her, she never complained and she never stopped smiling. 

Another family is facing challenges as one member has run into trouble with the law. Yet, they continued to tell us that God has a plan and that all will work out for the better.

The list goes on of the problems that I have heard and seen, yet each of these people going through these difficult times are able to continue on because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 

I was reminded of the words of one of my favorite talks by President Eyring that I have shared before. He says, 

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord's service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And He always keeps His word."

I know that we will each face trials in this life, but we are never asked to face them alone. I know that Jesus Christ, our brother and friend, is with us through it all.

Love,
Hermana Rupp 

This is a Mormon Message video that is part of the talk that President Eyring gave that Lindsay quoted. It is POWERFUL. Watch it.