“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
Asking in faith … do you really believe He is there? Do you believe He hears your prayers? Do you believe He cares enough to listen? Do you believe He will help? Do you believe you are worthy? Do you know it doesn’t matter?
Our loving Heavenly Father is here. When your heart is humble enough to ask in faith, nothing wavering, your heart is ready and prepared and worthy. Our perceptions of ourselves and what we think the Lord sees of us limits us. We don’t get to decide or choose what He sees in us or how He loves us. Deep in prayer, there is a hurdle with faith that we must overcome, and that is our willingness to allow our Heavenly Father to love us even though we are broken and don’t feel we deserve it. I know I don’t deserve it, but I also know it is there, that He is there, and that I don’t get to mandate His love for me. I know He is hopeful for me even though I continue to fail over and over again. He is hopeful for me even though I am weak. These are all things He wants to share with me.
There is a section in the Come Follow Me guide to study this week where it quotes President Nelson saying, “Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, how He feels about you and your mission here on earth. If you ask with real intent, over time the Spirit will whisper the life-changing truth to you … I promise you that when you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same!”
Have you ever thought to ask your Heavenly Father how He feels about you? That’s a very vulnerable and scary question. The difficult part of it is not in knowing how He feels, but to not cower while we know. His love is great, that is true, but because He does love us, He will show us where we need to improve. Can you stay humbly in prayer while He shows your weaknesses to you? Can you stay and see them and still ask Him for His grace and help in them? That is the sacrifice required of you, the broken heart and contrite spirit. You will also see His great love for you in all of it. Take the time to know Him and let Him know you.
Forever grateful He is there.
