Questions and Answers
Am I Putting My Faith in Outcomes or in Jesus Christ?
I thought that prayer was about getting what I wanted.
Growing up, I never thought about how I prayed. I assumed that prayer would always get me what I wanted.
When I lost a toy, I prayed to find it.
When people I knew got sick, I prayed for them to get better.
And when I thought it was time for me to get married, I prayed for my husband to appear.
It wasn’t until recently that I stopped to think about the difference between having faith in outcomes and having faith in Jesus Christ. But when I recognized that I most often put my faith in my desired outcomes, I realized I needed to change. I turned to Preach My Gospel, which defines faith in Jesus Christ: “Faith is a principle of power. As you exercise faith in Jesus Christ, you will be blessed with His power suited to your circumstance. You will be able to experience miracles according to the Lord’s will.”
So, when we express our faith in Jesus Christ, He will give us power to face what is going on in our lives. But how exactly could I not have faith in certain outcomes when I wanted them specifically?
To change my approach to prayer, I started doing three things that helped me put my faith and my heart in the right place.
1. Strengthening My Faith in Jesus Christ
Faith in Jesus Christ does not just exist on its own. It requires our efforts to develop and grow. As I prayed to strengthen my faith in Him, I found ways to invite Christ more into my personal life. This led to a stronger relationship with Him and more meaningful prayers. My faith in Him grew, no matter what I was experiencing.
2. Attending the Temple Regularly
I have felt a lot of pressure to get married. When I returned home from my mission and was frustrated about not having very many dates lined up, a friend challenged me to attend the temple once a week. While I still didn’t find someone I wanted to marry, I found something else: power and strength to be more courageous and purposeful with my dating.
As President Russell M. Nelson taught: “In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power.” Attending the temple helped me direct my faith toward Christ and His power, not toward my hope of getting married.
3. Praying to Understand and Trust Heavenly Father’s Timing
I think that it’s common to struggle with understanding Heavenly Father’s timing for our righteous desires. One thing that helped me to understand the blessings He has in store for me was studying my patriarchal blessing.
While it didn’t give me all the answers I longed for, it brought me comfort in the knowledge that I am Heavenly Father’s beloved child and that He will guide me to amazing blessings. He will guide you too. As I continue to pray to understand His character and His promises to me, I am filled with peace that only comes from Jesus Christ—peace from Him, not from the outcomes I longed for.
Is it wrong to hope for certain things to happen in my life? No. But having faith in those outcomes alone will not make them happen or bring me peace. Instead, increasing my faith in Jesus Christ has taught me to trust Him and Heavenly Father.
As Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the Seventy taught, “While not all circumstances turn out like we may hope and pray for, God’s miracles will always come according to His will, His timing, and His plan for us.”
I am certain that as I follow Jesus Christ, I will become who He wants me to be.