Healing Through Humility
By: Jacob Sok
Many years ago the iconic American Comedic Legend, Bob Hope was
presented a gold medal of service by President Kennedy of the United States for
his dedicated service often given to the country and more specifically the
military. At this momentous occasion was cited to say rather humorously
"I feel very humble, but I think I have the strength of character to fight
it".
This quote was provided by a website I came across recently,
delivers a tiny preamble to something that has been on my mind this week. As of
late I have been pondering different traits or qualities of the Savior. This
week I had chosen to consider that of humility, an attribute that is truly the
quest of everyday.
When usually caught in a rut I have come to recognize it it
because I have neglected to apply the healing grace of God offered in the
application of a particular quality. I liken the many attributes of Christ like
unto a pharmacy full of many medicinal remedies for our spiritual ailments. I
would suggest that when we get caught in the entanglements of the natural man,
we need only consult our heavenly physician. Who will then in turn prescribe
the right prescription of the necessary quality we need in order to return to
spiritual health. These attributes are layered in principle and are exponential
in application. As like most of the Christ-like characteristics we wish to
cultivate ourselves, I believe humility is one of these that can be understood
and applied at new levels as we progress in our life's journey and our understanding
of the gospel.
Humility is has dichotomy in its nature, which means that it's
power lies in the contrasting forces of its make up. Humility or to be humble
is to put off our natural reaction to enlarge our self-conceived status to
create a prideful spirit that would have us think we are better than some, and
instead turn to dependence on the grace and love Lord and those around us to
progress with pure intent not for praise.
I read recently a rather funny quote from an anonymous source the
stated "Swallow your pride it's non fattening." The book Preach My
Gospel, includes a beautiful perspective on humility. "Humility is
willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor
for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and
acknowledgment of your constant need for His divine help. Humility is not a
sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength" (PMG, Chapter 6). It
truly is not just the opposite of pride, but much more than that elementary concept
it goes even further to show that it's an opportunity to depend on a healing
power that brings us to the betterment of ourselves.
I had grown up with the idea that is was much better to be humble
than to be humbled. While there is some truth to that I believe that in our
weaknesses Satan would deceive us into complacency, but God in His love grants
opportunities to not only quit or learn but to repent retry and restart
accompanied by the help of our Savior. What an incredible concept.
Now as said humility like the other attributes have many layers
and mean different things as the adapts to teach and solve new problems we
find. While I could talk about pride and being humble, I feel at this
particular time to emphasize another layer of humility referring to the
gracious opportunities found in our weakness to love the Lord.
The Book of Mormon teaches a very beautiful truth in the Book of
Ether chapter 12 that "if men come unto me I will show unto them their
weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men
that humble themselves
before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then
will I make weak things become strong unto them." How wondrous is God
and how spectacular is His love. I often find myself when thinking of the
Savior feeling overwhelmed because I feel I will never be at His level, I mean
trying to walk in the shoes of He who is perfect is daunting. But at the same
time I feel relived even in my imperfections because that just means as I play
my cards right I just have several opportunities to try know my Savior. As I do
He promises to help my weakness become strengths.
While reading the Book of Nephi, we have an account of a similar
feeling in his heart. In 2 Nephi Chapter 4, which has come to contain some of
my most favorite scripture, we find a narrative of Nephi's heart in a
particularly trying time. To highlight just some of what he states "I am
encompassed about, by the temptations which do so easily beset me. When I
desire to rejoice my heart groaneth because of my sins." He like us felt
the humbling reality of his imperfections. Yet it never ceases to inspire his
determination to take those weakness as an opportunity to heal, rather than a reason
to quit.
He continued "Nevertheless I know in whom I have trusted. My
God hath been my support. By day I have waxed bold in mighty prayer...my voice
I have sent up on night and angels have come down and ministered unto me. If
the Lord ...hath visited men in his mercy, why should my heart weep."
While the Lord does not condone our mistakes, He does not leave us victims to
them.
Nephi then applies the power of humility by praying to the lord
saying "O Lord wilt thou redeem my soul? Make me that I shake at the
appearance of sin. My heart is broken and my spirit is contrite. Wilt thou make
my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way-
but that thou wouldst clear my way before me."
He concludes by stating that he will not put his trust in the arm
of flesh but God, because as we ask He will help us.
I believe this with all my heart that as we develop a spirit of
repentance or continual growth which is that contrite spirit and broken heart.
The weakness that beset or humble us open a door to grace and change.
This became very real this week and permit me if may to share a
real life 2017 example of this and I pray that my sharing this will invite the
spirit of what I wish to convey to be a beacon for hope in our efforts to be more
like Christ.
This week as I
chose to ponder humility it was interesting how many weakness I became to
notice that I often succumb to. Thought my hope and testimony of the Lords
mercy was re-affirmed just this week. One particular weakness of mine, is poor
planing and frankly occasional procrastination. While furthering my formal
education, in a particularly more rigors course we were assigned a few weeks
ago a rather intense research assignment. The assignment would require that I
based on my thesis interview several people of varying generations including
those of older and past generations, for opinions. The assignment as first
presented and intercepted by myself seems rather simple and fun, I gave no time
to reading the actual rubric and assumed I would call family members and
perform rather effortlessly the interviews.
By not reading the rubric I seriously underestimated the project's
criteria and in my a final class session that we would have prior to the coming
due date, our TA explained once more in hopes reminding us that the project
actually would require that we be physically present with all those we planned
to interview along with several other comments I was not aware of due to my
negligence. My first response was one I am not to proud of with instantaneous
complaining and a few rather ignorant sarcastic responses in class. In that
moment I began to feel frustrated and overwhelmed, I began planing my
withdrawal from the class and accepting a what I felt to be undeserved defeat.
In a brief pause to my complaining I was given a glimpse of how rather pathetic I sounded and reminded myself that
I brought this upon my self by procrastinating. In that weak moment just as the
class ended, I bowed my head right there at my desk and apologized for the compliant
and asked to effect that I could manage to accomplish the assignment and in
essence be guided to work the problem. As I left the room my brain started to
work more tactically at solving the problem and ideas came slowly, climaxing at
a moment when after a few hours of thinking and talking to a friend who even
offered to take me visit some of his older family for interviews, that I
decided what I know has to be an answer from a God to simply go and see if I
could find a multi-generational interest group at my universities genealogy
readers have center. No sooner than I walked I was treated by a elderly women
with an angelic offer inquiring if I need help with any thing. She cordially
agreed to the interview and introduced me to several others that ended up
fulfilling the requirements.
This humble yet
real moment had me go from wanting to quit to reestablishing my hope in God in
less than 4hrs. I walked home absolutely
in awe and happy as can be, knowing God is in the details of my life
including the details of my problem's solutions.
Full disclosure I have come to except that I have my weakness but
I said before I wish to testify and leave a current as can be witness, seeing
as this happened the same day I wrote this article, in our weakness we can as
Nephi take heart even a humble or broken heart and find the Lord opening the
door to us coming closer to Him. We need only trust in His power and do what we
can and I promise He not only consecrated but also directs our efforts. More
that feeling better about an assignment I feel more conscious of my Savior's
hand in my life and while I have a lot to change I can as Nephi feel glad
knowing the Lord is helping become the best I can be.
I pray that even though it's frustrating and it is always a little discouraging finding our weakness... I know that not only is His grace sufficient, it is an exponential gift we can find
as we humbly seek it.
To further your study on this topic please prayerfully consider the following sources:
- Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 4
- Always Remember Him By: Henry B. Eyering
- Our Savior's Love: (LDS Hymnal)
{All pictures supplied by Google Images, Paintings are property of the LDS Gospel Library}
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