Who do you turn to, when everyone turns on you?
Where can you go, when you're going nowhere?
What is the point, if everything's pointless?
How can you find something, if you are lost yourself?
When do I just give up?
Desperation, that is one of the most tragic feelings all of us can succumb to. I know I have had questions like these, maybe not written as well, probably a couple "Umm"s, "Uhh"s and other useless "words" thrown in there. But I have felt useless, hopeless, worthless and alone. It is hard to pull yourself out of your own selfish stupor, when you feel that it is pointless. You don't want to put in the effort, and you don't think it will help.
How can we change the way we feel when we are down like this? What can we do to help us out, no matter what our circumstances are?
Let me locate a time in my life where I really felt hopelessness. Alright, Got one. It was actually only a couple of weeks before my mission. I personally, was very stressed, and right before you take a big step to progress in your relationship with our Heavenly Father, you experience harsh opposition. So this is a great example, because whether you are doing everything right in your life or not, this is applicable. Anyway, so I think it was about a month before I left.
I have had my call, for a couple of weeks, and I get in a big fight with my best friend. It was over something really stupid, It was definitely my fault, but I hurt her feelings, and I was mad, and frustrated. To add on top of that, family relationships were getting harder too, my fuse had lost what little length it had, and I was being set off by anything and everything. Finally one of my best friends, who was dating my sister, does something stupid, and that was it, I was done. (Mind you, I was overreacting in all of this, but when you're emotions are just crazy, so are you.) So I took off running (and I don't like to run), I wanted to get alone where I could just be, and not worry about anyone or anything. But, escaping people and getting out of situations, doesn't get completely rid of the chaos from inside your head. So finally in pure frustration, I knelt down, not caring about the cold hard rocks I was kneeling on, and pled for peace from my chaos...That changed things. In my heart I immediately felt peace. I can recall times before feeling that same feeling, but never such a direct answer to a prayer, and never such a contrast. From that moment on, I was able to make amends with those who I'd wronged, I was able to rebuild relationships with my loved ones, and I was able to find peace, and strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I am so grateful for the power of prayer. I am grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to continue to build up my chaos, until I came to him. It taught me an important lesson about prayer, that now I am able to share with others. But, you don't need to be on the brink of insanity to call upon our Heavenly Father, if I would have done so earlier, and asked for peace, I probably would have been in a better situation. So pray for peace in your life and in others, and this week, bear your testimony about prayer to a friend or a family member. If you do so I know you will be blessed, and the lives of the people you testify to will be blessed.
Man's greatest power, lies in the power of prayer. -Napoleon Hill-
Where can you go, when you're going nowhere?
What is the point, if everything's pointless?
How can you find something, if you are lost yourself?
When do I just give up?
Desperation, that is one of the most tragic feelings all of us can succumb to. I know I have had questions like these, maybe not written as well, probably a couple "Umm"s, "Uhh"s and other useless "words" thrown in there. But I have felt useless, hopeless, worthless and alone. It is hard to pull yourself out of your own selfish stupor, when you feel that it is pointless. You don't want to put in the effort, and you don't think it will help.
How can we change the way we feel when we are down like this? What can we do to help us out, no matter what our circumstances are?
Let me locate a time in my life where I really felt hopelessness. Alright, Got one. It was actually only a couple of weeks before my mission. I personally, was very stressed, and right before you take a big step to progress in your relationship with our Heavenly Father, you experience harsh opposition. So this is a great example, because whether you are doing everything right in your life or not, this is applicable. Anyway, so I think it was about a month before I left.
I have had my call, for a couple of weeks, and I get in a big fight with my best friend. It was over something really stupid, It was definitely my fault, but I hurt her feelings, and I was mad, and frustrated. To add on top of that, family relationships were getting harder too, my fuse had lost what little length it had, and I was being set off by anything and everything. Finally one of my best friends, who was dating my sister, does something stupid, and that was it, I was done. (Mind you, I was overreacting in all of this, but when you're emotions are just crazy, so are you.) So I took off running (and I don't like to run), I wanted to get alone where I could just be, and not worry about anyone or anything. But, escaping people and getting out of situations, doesn't get completely rid of the chaos from inside your head. So finally in pure frustration, I knelt down, not caring about the cold hard rocks I was kneeling on, and pled for peace from my chaos...That changed things. In my heart I immediately felt peace. I can recall times before feeling that same feeling, but never such a direct answer to a prayer, and never such a contrast. From that moment on, I was able to make amends with those who I'd wronged, I was able to rebuild relationships with my loved ones, and I was able to find peace, and strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I am so grateful for the power of prayer. I am grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to continue to build up my chaos, until I came to him. It taught me an important lesson about prayer, that now I am able to share with others. But, you don't need to be on the brink of insanity to call upon our Heavenly Father, if I would have done so earlier, and asked for peace, I probably would have been in a better situation. So pray for peace in your life and in others, and this week, bear your testimony about prayer to a friend or a family member. If you do so I know you will be blessed, and the lives of the people you testify to will be blessed.
Man's greatest power, lies in the power of prayer. -Napoleon Hill-
1 comment:
Your post could not have come at a more perfect moment for me. All those feelings of frustration I am feeling now. In fact, I was just about to take off running myself. I sought a moment of peace and in a strange series of events, I ended up seeing this blog post. I felt too angry to pray. Your words were just the "softening" my heart needed so I can lower my pride and get on my knees. I know that our Heavenly Father can give me the strength to face the obstacles in front of me. Thanks Elder Hancock for your inspired message at just the exact moment I needed them.
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