So for anyone that may be following my posts, I am currently a first year student in a 4 year pharmacy program. It is a pretty intense program where I'll be taking anywhere from 16-18 credit hours a semester for 4 years. Right now I am also working part time (not a significant amount of hours, but still its time). In about a month my beautiful wife will be having our first child. I also have other family members I keep in touch with, friends to associate with, and church responsibilities.
Now I know my situation is not unique. I know there are people out there that want to fit 36 hours of activities into a 24 hour day. I also know it can be overwhelming. It seems like I almost never get what I want to get accomplished. I had been thinking a lot about this as it pertains to my spirituality.
I know there is a loving Heavenly Father that loves me and wants to hear from me, yet I find myself exhausted at the end of each day and struggling to have a sincere conversation with Him. I also know He has given us scriptures to learn of Him and to receive instruction in our daily lives. Even with that knowledge it is so hard to open up the scriptures. Basically it seems to boil down to how am I supposed to fit in my day to day activities and fit in the necessary spiritual activities that will increase my faith in the Savior and my Heavenly Father.
Well this is not a unique predicament. As the semester began I found myself struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of school. Everyday was frustrating, as I failed to get everything I wanted to accomplish done. I felt that if I'd do more of this or more of that I could get caught up. Well I had a good experience one Sunday after church. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints individuals in each congregation have the opportunity to be assigned to be home teachers. Home teachers are responsible for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the families they are assigned. They have the opportunity to go out and visit their families at least once a month to see how they are doing, to provide service, and to teach and expound the word of God.
Well our home teachers stopped by a couple of weeks ago to introduce themselves and to see how things were going. At the end of the visit they asked if they could share a spiritual thought. I was so grateful for the message they delivered because it was what I needed to hear. I honestly do not remember what scriptures he used but he basically said that it is of vital importance to put the Lord first. The Lord wants us to succeed and will help us accomplish our goals and His goals if we will put Him and the gospel first. I wish I could remember exactly what he said but it included having meaningful prayer and scripture study and fulfilling our other spiritual responsibilities. Now I've heard this before and I'll hear it again, but it hit me in a way where I knew this was the Lord letting me know here was how I was going to survive the hectic schedule I'd be facing. I need to put Him first and everything will fall into place.
Now I'm not going to say I'm perfectly on the turn around, but I'm striving to do better, especially with the little things. Making time to get on my knees and pray, to read from the scriptures, and to serve faithfully in my church responsibilities will allow me to accomplish more with school, my family, and my other goals. I don't know exactly why it works, but I know it works. The Lord will empower those that serve Him and make Him the priority. I notice the difference in the days where I'll read my scriptures and say my prayers. My studies go better, I understand the material better, and I have greater confidence. It truly is remarkable.
This is stated clearly in the Book of Mormon. In Alma 37: 6-7 it says:
"6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
Anyone that is facing the same challenges I promise this scripture is true and the principles of it are true. For anyone that is feeling they cannot accomplish the tasks put in front of them, just take this challenge. Do the small and simple things. Put the Lord first. Pray with sincerity, search the scriptures with purpose, and keep the commandments of God. I know there will be more time in the day. Things will work together easier. Just try it out. There will be a difference. There will be added strength.
One final verse in the Luke 2:52
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
The ultimate example is the Savior. We do not know many details of His childhood and His life before His ministry, but we know as He increased in wisdom He followed the will of the Father perfectly. He gained perfect strength, love and power because He did not let any worldly influences alter what He knew to be true. Because of His perfect obedience and unwavering faith in His Father's plan, others recognized Him to be the Savior, the Son of God. I know that He lives. I know when we are overwhelmed or struggling to keep pace with life, we can turn to Him and we will be given a boost. We will be carried throughout our activities and responsibilities and will be formed into the Savior's image. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ.
