Giving Everything

I heard a song the other day and I don't know what the title is, but a question in the chorus of the song really struck me: " I don't want to spend my whole life asking, "What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?" It just made me think about what life is really about and WHY I do the things I do. Do I just monotonously go through my same routine everyday because I've never known anything else? And then when trials come, I say, "Well it must all be for nothing anyway." Or do I truly give everything in being a wife, a mother, a woman of God, because that's what I KNOW Heavenly Father wants me to do, even in the midst of hard times? I think we all come to a point (or several points) in our lives where we question ourselves and what the point is of doing what we do and believing in what we believe in. But I choose, when I find my faith wavering, to go with what works. What really makes me happy? I try to remember those experiences I've had when I know that the Spirit has comforted me or borne witness of truth. I so easily forget. But I know that true peace and joy are found in living (truly living) the plan of happiness that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. I struggle with turning my will over to His sometimes, because I am afraid of not being able to handle what is ahead. And I know I don't give everything I have all the time because of impatience and distraction and again, fear. But I know that I don't want to look back on my life and ask myself, "What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?" I must have faith that there are marvelous things prepared for those who do give their all for His sake and I must keep trying! The following scripture gives me a lot of comfort:

"But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

Giving everything is hard, especially when life is hard! But I as my wonderful friend, Marilyn, said to me on Sunday, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philip. 4:13 I know all of us can do this!

The Love of Our Heavenly Father and Savior

What do we have hope in if not a Supreme Being who has overcome all evil and who loves us unconditionally; sees our needs, answers our prayers, and heals us with His Spirit? What would be left to have hope in? When all seems dark around us, we must believe that there is someone out there who knows all and who will bring mercy to those who suffer, and justice to those who would willingly inflict suffering. If there is no Heavenly Father, then those who do wickedly would never have to suffer as they make those around them to do so. And those who are righteous would have no hope of blessings or a reward for their patience, kindness, and forgiveness. There would be no purpose in any of what we do. We must believe there is purpose and that there is a God over all people and things! If not, how truly hopeless our situation would be! And if we choose to believe that there is a God, we must take the time to find out His character through study of the scriptures, prayer, and personal experiences; or perhaps, the experiences of others if we find our desire waning. We must be believing and unshaken in our hope that there is a God who loves us, even if all around us should fail. I love these words from Paul:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." --Romans 8: 35, 37-39

A beautiful hymn also comes to mind:

"Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone.
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last.