Do Something That Our Yesterminute Selves Would Be Fearful About Doing But That Our Faith-filled Selves Can Do Joyfully

Sometimes I doubt, like Thomas in the New Testament. Not willing to feel peace and excitement about something totally wonderful and exciting, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, until I’m totally sure. Or not willing to relax about a big event (giving a talk, having an important talk with somebody, social event, argument in court, etc.) until totally prepared (usually never, so not until the event is over). I’m happy I’m not called Doubting Rees, like how Thomas has sometimes been called Doubting Thomas. Because there is also faith-filled Rees. Like all people, I have better and worse moments. With this blog article, inspired by the Easter season, I am writing how Jesus Christ takes away my fears when I believe in Him.

Doubt is specifically mentioned in another story around the same time. In Matthew 28, Jesus starts an amazingly powerful and joyful injunction right after he senses some doubt among His apostles. Shortly after His resurrection, His eleven remaining apostles went to where Jesus had told them to meet Him. “And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.” Those eleven had seen inspiring miracles, but had also seen the frighteningly harsh treatment He had suffered, and perhaps were worried that there was about as much bad stuff ahead as good stuff. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” He reassures them that He has all power. He let people crucify Him out of love, not out of a lack of power. To me He is saying that His power is much bigger than my doubt. And He is telling them it is time for His gentle and great power to be proclaimed to bless everybody. After stating the power He has, He immediately goes into encouraging His disciples to bless all the world with His covenants and teachings.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. - Matthew 28:19-20.

I believe we can have a similar experience every time we reach out to God in prayer. He can reassure us of His love, power, and confidence, and inspire us to do better than we ever have before. And so, if we feel a little anxious, about going to work, serving in church, helping a neighbor, getting through clean-up time with kiddos in a kind-natured way, etc., I think that we can, by believing in and relying on Jesus Christ’s power, get rid of our fear and be confident as we do what needs done.

God can help us when we have a natural confidence, when we’re feeling doubtful or fearful, or in all other sorts of conditions, even when we have particularly unlikeable or bad characteristics. I love quotes showing God’s love for sinners. I have been especially moved by a talk by Richard G. Scott, an apostle of Jesus Christ who died several years ago, emphasizing that God wants us to pray to Him even when we have such an unpleasant characteristic as arrogance:

It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer. - Talk by Elder Scott.

So, even if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or your family member woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or if somebody deeply disagrees with the kind of person you are, God will hear you and love you. 

This morning I found this beautiful tulip hidden next to our shed. I really wanted to buy tulips this year. I called a flower shop ahead, and learned they’d be available in a week. Then I waited a few weeks and went, and they were gone! But this tulip, through the wonders of God’s power, popped up in an unexpected way. 

Similarly, trusting in God can help in hidden ways, like this morning, when I might have felt sort of wandering and sad, but by trying to engage with people and in good work like Jesus would, I felt happier. I think that we can “unexpectedly,” or in ways that might be surprising to our faithless selves, change our fear to confidence as we learn of, trust in, connect with, and follow Jesus Christ the best that we can. I know He lives and loves us.