Come Follow Me: December 6-12th, 2021
I was asked to write about the December 6-12th Come Follow Me lesson. This lesson asks the question, “How do I find answers to my questions?” We can seek personal revelation to find answers to our questions not only about the gospel but also about our lives. As teens in today’s world, we ask a lot of questions every day. We have social media, the internet, social situations with our peers, and everything else that comes with growing up. But these questions often are left unanswered, or the answers we get from a lot of places just leave us more confused. We don’t always think about the resource that is always there and always has the answer: our Heavenly Father. One thing that people my age don’t always understand is that Heavenly Father doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we want Him to or expect Him to. Sometimes He just answers our prayers in the way that He knows we can grow from the most.
A few years ago, I was friends with someone who was not good for me. It took time for me to realize that she was hurting me. I wasn’t quite sure what to do. I needed to separate myself from her slowly and gently. I knew that she is also a child of God and didn’t deserve to be hurt suddenly even though she hurt me. So, I prayed to Heavenly Father many times and became frustrated. I was frustrated because this toxic friendship was getting worse every day. I didn’t feel like I was getting any answers. Eventually, I felt the confidence and courage to stand up to her in a kind way. I gently let her know that she was hurting my feelings and that I didn’t think it was best to continue our friendship. She didn’t take it very well. The main reason the friendship ended was that the pandemic gave me some space during the lockdown and not being able to spend time with my peers. But I’m still grateful that I was able to firmly and gently let her know the trouble I was going through because it will help her become a better friend to other people in the future. My prayer was not answered in the way I thought It would be. She didn’t apologize. She didn’t change. But my prayer was answered in a way that taught me more than if she did what I wanted. I know that this experience helped me grow. I learned that my Heavenly Father is always there to comfort and help me. In Matthew 7:7 it says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. I know that I can always go to Heavenly Father when I don’t know what to do.
We can also go straight to Heavenly father with questions we have about the gospel. And just like the situation with my friend, He may not answer me when and how I want. Sometimes waiting for the answer is part of the answer. We are learning patience. Sometimes He is teaching us to be patient and listen to the Holy Ghost. In D&C 78:18, it says, “And ye cannot bear all things now, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The Kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.”
I have a testimony that even if we don’t get the answers we want, we will get the answers we need. It will all work out in the end if we ask Heavenly Father for Help. Every question that we struggle with helps us grow. And that is why we are all here. To learn. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
