Stuck in a Rut

Today I want to address a problem we can all face in our lives every now and then. Being stuck in a rut. Yes, those times when we reach a certain age, a certain trial, or even reach a person in ourselves, whom we don't recognize anymore. We just feel Blah about life and we don't know how to fix it! We feel like all the rainbows and sunshine that were once in our lives are not there. Well, maybe we still know that sunshine is attainable, but we don't know how to get it back again.

I feel like lately I have been stuck in a rut. A stopping point in life, even if so many things continue on around me. Life stays busy, and I even am busy, but am I just going through the motions and not really addressing a deeper issue that's going on in my life? You could be asking yourself the same question now. But I have been receiving small answers everyday that keep reminding me that this stump is not going to always be in my way.

So the question is...How do we fix this rut?

In the Book of Mormon, a prophet King Benjamin addresses his people in this giant general conference, he basically gives them the key to happiness. Look at this:

Mosiah 4:11-12 "...even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

After I read this scripture, it made a lot more sense why I hadn't been happy the past few months. So basically let me break this scripture down simply to the best of my understanding. King benjamin is saying, Be insanely humble, communicate to God everyday, and then wait patiently for what he tells you.

The part King Benjamin says about faith...that is when we act! When heavenly Father tells us to act, we should do it. Because he's telling us how to act in order to be happy.

So back to the main topic. I believe that the spirit will be our greatest ally when we are experiencing a rutty life. Like to my nonmember friends, think of the spirit as your conscience. That's what I mean when I say spirit. Just a friend that's always with you and helping you make good choices! But the spirit is different than a conscience. Because when I think of a conscience being with me, I think of Jimminey Cricket. But when I think of the spirit, I think of God. God, a person who loves me and wants me to know how he feels about me through his spirit. So dang cool, right???!!!

So whether the rut you are experiencing is caused by your own sins, someone else's sins, or life just sucking in general for no apparent reason or explanation, remember the spirit will remind you who you are if you are humble enough to accept that.

We know when we aren't being who we really are. We know when we are trying to be someone we are not. We know that cause the spirit is gone. When we're slacking on reading scriptures. Or not saying prayers with our kids before they get to bed. Or wearing something we aren't even comfortable in but just want to follow some fad.

But the last verse rings sweet music to my ears. When we do listen to the spirit, we "shall always rejoice and be filled with the love of God." Just imagine that. Always rejoicing. Even if bad things happen, we always know who we are and we always know who God is. That's where real strength comes from.

I have felt the love of God since I have been home from my mission. His love is real. He wants us to succeed and he wants us to rejoice. These past few weeks, I had been praying to find answers to help me be happier right now. And this sunday, the spirit was really direct and I wrote down 3 goals that I would apply into my life this upcoming week. One goal was reading my scriptures every night this week. And sunday night I read some with my roommate. And I did feel like I learned a lot intellectually, but I didn't immediately feel any spiritual impressions. The next day, I was in classes and talking to friends and I just felt like myself again. I haven't felt like that for a long time. I felt like the person God created me as. The funny, chill, happy, friendly, loving person I am.

 Really knowing who you are changes everything. That's a profound truth that I keep receiving in Christ's church.

Love Alicia