"Then I will make weak things become strong..."

Today in Relief Society, I taught a lesson on marriage and family being ordained of God. This lesson was particularly difficult for me to teach. Not because I don't believe that marriage and family are ordained of God but because so many of the trials and challenges we face are related to marriage and family.

 As I prepared for this lesson, I kept thinking about trials and weaknesses and how they relate. I know that one of my biggest weaknesses is being patient. No matter what it is, I become impatient and just want to solve the problem, finish the project, eat the chocolate, etc. It is no coincidence that I have to wait to have children. This challenge focuses directly on my personal weakness. 

In Ether 12:27  it says..."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." We are given weakness that we may be humble. How true this is. As I try each day to overcome my weaknesses I often fail having to return to my Father in Heaven over and over again asking for help to overcome these weaknesses. Nothing is more humbling than realizing that you can't do it by yourself that you need help. 

I love the second half of the scripture where it says "...then will I make weak things become strong...". I think one of the ways Heavenly Father makes weak things strong is by giving us trials and challenges that directly relate to the weakness.

Being a personal trainer, I often think of it in terms of muscles. :) It order to become physically stronger, our muscles must be overloaded or given more than they can lift on their own. After they have experienced the overload they grow and adapt to be able to lift more weight the next time. 

However, no matter how hard we try to overcome our weaknesses and flaws it will never be enough. We cannot do it on our own. We need the Atonement. 

You know how some days at church there are just so many lessons and comments that seem to talk directly to your soul? Today was one of those days. The Sunday School lesson was on the Atonement. We talked about how Christ felt everything that we have felt. This past week I had a really really bad few days with my Endometriosis. I was in so much physical pain I didn't know if I was going to make it to work. Sitting in Sunday School, it really hit me that Christ knows what that pain feels like. He knows what I am going through. I am so thankful for the Savior and the Atonement and comfort it brings. I am thankful for inspired teachers and speakers at church.