The Prophet Joseph Smith once declared that doubt and faith
cannot exist in the same person at the same time. The statement almost makes it sound like God
wants us to live in a state of absolute certainty. Paradoxically, though, uncertainty is a
critical element of faith, without which our testimonies cannot grow.
Uncertainty can take many forms. Often it casts a dark cloud over our distant
future. Sometimes it confounds difficult
decisions, causing us to worry if we are really on the right path. We may exert every-increasing effort towards
a desirable objective without
knowing for sure how much progress is being made. Personal insecurity is particularly troubling
because our uncertainty is directed towards ourselves. Whatever the source of uncertainty, it is
bound to make us uncomfortable, especially when that uncertainty continues for
long periods of time.
Uncertainty is not altogether
undesirable, however. Alma explained,
"there
are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we
shall know of a surety; then we shall believe. Now I ask, is this
faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no
cause to believe, for he knoweth it."
Faith is a principle of power, but it cannot exist without
uncertainty. If we were never exposed to
uncertainty, would we still benefit from the power of faith?
Great peace can come during uncertain times. During the midst of war, one group of
disciples of Christ recounted that, "it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that
he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and
did grant unto us great faith."
In contrast, doubt breaks
down our faith and causes us to despair.
It debilitates our ability to act and diminishes our sensitivity to the
Spirit. While acting the midst of
uncertainty can call down miracles, the only thing faith calls down is our
spirits.
The choice between faith and doubt is a decision of where
we will place our beliefs. We can choose
to believe that God is at the helm in this situation, just as He has been in so
many others, or we can choose to believe that the outcome depends solely on our
own efforts and chance.
There is a common difficulty of internal uncertainty that society
has labeled "low self-esteem."
Personally, I believe that this perspective misses some key points
because "self-esteem" lumps pride, individual worth, certainty, and
confidence into the same concept, each of which is completely distinct and not
necessarily compatible with the others. While
individual worth and confidence are
critical to a person's well-being, I believe that people who worry about low
self esteem can neglect a more important problem: a focus on one's personal difficulties and
needs rather than on the needs of others.
When a person turns the focus of their life onto other
people, they will be able to accept the uncertainty and insecurities that they
feel, including those pointed at themselves, and will be able to keep moving
forward. They will also understand their
own identity more deeply because of the promise that those that lose themselves
in God's work will find themselves. God
will take care of the things that they choose to set aside in order to serve. He will help them feel their worth and build
their confidence far more effectively than what they could do for themselves. It just takes faith.
I know that we can find great happiness and peace, even
when life is a whirlwind of uncertainty.
When we choose to believe in faith instead of doubt and turn the focus
of our lives outward instead of inward, we become more like the Savior and can
conquer our inner difficulties. I know that all
things are possible to them that believe.
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