Fear Into Faith

Elder Uchtdorf stated in the women's conference in October 2014:

In other words, He not only knows what is best for you; He also anxiously wants you to choose what is best for you.

If you believe this in your hearts—if you truly believe the great mission of our Heavenly Father is to exalt and glorify His children and that He knows best how to do it—doesn’t it make sense to embrace and follow His commandments, even the ones that appear difficult? Should we not cherish the light posts He has given that guide us through the darkness and the trials of mortality? They mark the way back to our heavenly home! By choosing Heavenly Father’s path, you lay a divine foundation for your personal progress as a daughter of God that will bless you throughout your life.

Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.

His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings.

In the scriptures of the New Testament in Matthew Chapter 14 it states:

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

This is a parable about our own faith.  We seek to follow Christ and he invites us to step out of the boat and come to him.  However, so many times, just like Peter, we are a aware of all the commotion, storms, waves, and winds around us, and we take our eyes off of the Savior and begin to sink.  If we turn back to our Lord and cry "Lord, save me" like Peter, He will reach out and lift us up again.

Fear is a very powerful thing and can prevent us from receiving blessings the Lord desires us to have.  Right now in my life I'm trying to close the different umbrellas of fear that are blocking me from recieving blessings. It has been  hard to let go of some of my fears and have greater faith in the Lord that I will be blessed with opportunities.  It has been hard at times to also have faith in myself, that I can make it across the stormy sea and reach my Savior.  I have been praying out loud and simply talking with the Lord about each of my fears, big ones and small ones. And I feel he is listening.