When you feel you’ve fallen short, you can combat discouragement by having faith in Jesus Christ and by remembering that he has faith in you.
We hear repeatedly that faith is the first principle of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Most of us are pretty good at remembering that faith must be centered in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But what we might fail to realize is that our faith in Jesus Christ can engender stronger faith in ourselves as well.
The relationship between faith in Christ and faith in ourselves is one of the major themes in Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk “You Can Do It Now!” Elder Uchtdorf explains that many of us might easily become discouraged when we make mistakes: “No one likes to fail. And we particularly don’t like it when others—especially those we love—see us fail.” But Elder Uchtdorf reminds us that such failures do not define us; rather, they are important steps to achieving our destinies.
Photo by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The idea of transforming mistakes into progress is nothing new. One of the most repeated messages in the scriptures is that Jesus Christ offers us the miraculous gift of repentance: the ability to change course and become better than we were before. When Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, he gave us this gift and showed us both his love and his strong belief in what we can become.
Because I desire to become what Christ knows I can become, I often find myself struggling with perfectionism. But when I remember that Christ came to earth to help me overcome my mistakes, I understand that imperfection is part of the plan. My imperfections and mistakes become opportunities for growth—growth that Christ helps me to achieve. This realization helps me internalize what Elder Uchtdorf teaches: “You are stronger than you realize. You are more capable than you can imagine.”
To better understand how Christ’s Atonement is evidence of your divine potential, read Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk “You Can Do It Now!”
Source: www.churchofjesuschrist.org
—Brooklyn Bird, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Check out Elder Henry B. Eyring’s devotional address “Blessings: A Law of Increasing Returns” to learn more about keeping an eternal perspective when facing failure.
Read Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” to learn more about the great potential that Christ sees in you.
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