This week I studied Acts 19-20, 1 Corinthians 1-3, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The verse that stuck out the most to me this week was 2 Thessalonians 3:16, "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all." Life is hard. As Acts 20:22-24 says, we will have to face the unknown and suffer through the trials that await us. We have to know evil to know good, sorrow to know joy, weakness to know strength. This is all part of our Heavenly Father's plan for us to grow. These trials suck and are painful to get through, but if we build the foundation of our testimony on Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11), we can feel His peace for ourselves.
As a young woman preparing to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 gave me so much strength. Paul went to the people of Corinth to preach of his Savior Jesus Christ and his God. He was scared and a poor speaker, but the Holy Spirit touched the people's hearts and made Paul's testimony full of God's power. We are human. There is no way we can have all the knowledge, power, and spirit to touch people's hearts with our words. Our imperfectness is made whole through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who gives God's power to our words and actions. We do our best to exemplify Christ and He gives the rest.
1 Thessalonians 2:4,8 continues this idea of our imperfect teaching and God's grace. We are accountable to God. He can see our hearts and our efforts and He trusts us to choose the right. I truly love this gospel and I know the joy that it brings me. I will be a missionary because I want to teach people of what I believe and bear my soul to them. I am following the commandment of God to love my neighbors and this is how I can show the world that I love my God and my Savior. Jesus Christ is my Savior and He suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, and resurrected from the dead to redeem all of us. He is my Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer, and I want to spread my joy. He will come again, and I want to give a good report of my faith and good works.
I will not be shaken from my foundation of faith (2 Thessalonians 2:2), and I will stand fast (2 Thessalonians 2:15). I will rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, give thanks to God, listen to the Holy Spirit, listen to gospel teachings, hold fast to my faith, do good, and be faithful to my God and my Savior Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). I invite you to pray to God and ask for peace, especially if you are stuck in a faith-crushing storm right now. Matthew 7:7 tells us, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you."
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