When we read Matthew and Luke's accounts of the Savior's temptations in the wilderness, they are very different if we pay attention to the JST corrections found in the footnotes. There we learn that it was not Satan that took the Savior to the various places, it was the Spirit. After being transported by the Spirit, and undoubtedly taught there by the Spirit, then Satan came and tried to tempt Jesus.
I have found in my life experience that this is a common pattern. Oftimes, when the Spirit teaches me something or guides me to do something, almost immediately the adversary will come to cast doubt or discourage me. I have learned over time that I need to figuratively tell him to "get thee hence!" by ignoring him and continuing on the path I was on. Sometimes the Lord blesses me with a special witness that my course is correct, other times He lets me struggle a bit so I can grow in faith and understanding.
When I was creating the Live Nativity last Thanksgiving, I felt the support and inspiration of the Spirit on countless occasions. But the Monday before the Saturday when we would put it on, I began to have doubts and negative thoughts come to my mind. I felt like the whole project was stupid. I began to think we could never pull it off. I began to worry and fret about it.
I immediately recognized where these thoughts and feelings were coming from, but it was difficult to shake them off. There was still a lot that had to be figured out and time was short. The thoughts actually made sense, if I didn't choose to have faith that the Lord would help me.
I felt the need to try to find one more person to help the characters put on their costumes. Marlene Keeley's name came to my mind. I called her. After I explained what we were doing and what I needed, she said she would love to help, but that they were going to be out of town the night of the Nativity. But then she added, I'm so glad you are doing this! When I was a little girl about seven or eight years old, our ward put on a live nativity and when the wise men passed the bench where I was sitting, I just knew, with all my little girl heart, that these were the real wise men!
She went on to explain that because of that experience, she had always loved the Nativity more than Santa. She said that just a few years ago she and a friend had made some really elaborate wise men costumes, just because of her memory of that special Christmas moment!
I thanked her profusely. She had just given me exactly what I needed to counter the doubts and discouragement and to know this wasn't a stupid idea! My dark thoughts disappeared in the light of renewed faith and our Nativity ended up being better than I had dared hope it would be!
No comments:
Post a Comment