Purpose

This week, I've been thinking about all God has entrusted me with.

Time. Talents. A body. Scriptures. Temples. Family. Friends...
Enemies. Opposition. Likes and Dislikes. Strengths and Weaknesses.

And He expects me to do what???
Keep the commandments. Share my testimony. Continually improve myself. Serve others.

Why does He even care? Why does He want me to succeed? After all, there are plenty of other people in past, present, and future, who could live up to all this. Someone's got to be the weakling, right?

Wrong.

That's the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No one HAS to be the weakling. We are all weak as human beings, but when we apply the Atonement of Christ to our lives, we can be made infinitely more strong. We can conquer anything, and I do mean ANYTHING. Sometimes we feel on top of the world, and other times we feel 20,000 leagues under the sea in a sinking submarine.

This is how I like to think of it:

God has everything in His power and control. His gift to us of life and everything else I mentioned is like giving someone a brand new, bright red Ferrari. Only, it's not just anyone; it's an inexperienced, partially blind fifteen-year-old in the streets of Chicago. Pretty dangerous, ay? Well, yes. But the owner of the Ferrari has given this boy the appropriate eyewear, a driving instruction manual, and all of the other resources he needs to safely maneuver his way through the city. If the boy uses those resources, he has a much bigger chance of coming out unharmed than if he relies on his poor sight distance and lack of perspective. The owner wants the boy to be safe, knows he can do it, and has the best insurance plan out there to cover whatever may happen.

The Lord is rooting for us! He wants us to be successful, and to help ensure that, He has provided us with scriptures, with the Holy Ghost, with people to help us along the way, and most importantly, the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

For this, I am eternally grateful.