Feeding on Faithfulness: Keeping Our Focus on the Rock

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve been in the field, you know the rhythm of it. You’ll have days where the Spirit feels like a roaring river, and days where it feels like a trickle. Sometimes, when we’re deep in the work—whether we’re in the MTC, on a mission, or just having a tough missionary discussion with an investigator right here at home—the doubts creep in. They whisper, “Is this working? Are we doing enough? What if God hasn't been faithful in this area of my life?”

It’s natural. We are human, and we are prone to looking at the gaps, the unanswered prayers, or the times we feel let down. I was reminded of this recently, and it hit me with the force of a revelation. Sometimes, the greatest spiritual work we can do isn't *doing* more; it's *remembering* what has already been done.

The principle Paul taught us—and what Psalm 37 echoes so beautifully—is that our focus determines our reality. We have a choice: dwell on the areas where we feel God has been distant, or we can intentionally feed our minds on the mountains of His faithfulness.

Dwell on His Faithfulness

I was listening to a message recently, and the speaker said something that really resonated with my heart: “Even if you can think of one or two ways that you think God has let you down, I'm sure you could think of 50 ways that God has been faithful to you.”

Think about that. It’s not about pretending the hard things didn't happen. It’s about *choosing* where to anchor our thoughts. It’s a deliberate act of discipleship. It’s taking those memories—the times you felt lost, the times you thought you wouldn't pass the temple recommend interview, the times you thought you wouldn't find a companion—and letting those memories become the food for your soul.

This isn't just feel-good platitude; it's practical theology for the modern disciple. It’s what keeps us going when the calling feels overwhelming. It’s realizing that the Lord’s faithfulness isn't a guarantee of comfort, but a guarantee of character refinement. He is faithful to us, even when we stumble in our own efforts.

Delighting in the Lord

The scripture passage we’re looking at today, Psalm 37:3-4, is a beautiful roadmap for navigating doubt. It tells us to “Dwell on the Lord” and to “delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

For us rogue disciples, who are constantly being called to be Internet missionaries, to be disciples anywhere, all the time, this is our daily sustenance. When we feel burnt out from constant preparation, or when we’re struggling to keep our testimony vibrant between assignments, we need to pause. We need to intentionally redirect our focus from the *task* (the next meeting, the next talk, the next scripture study) to the *Source* (the Savior, the covenant promises).

If you're feeling the weight of the work, or if you're in the thick of your own missionary preparation, I encourage you to take a moment today. Don't just *think* about the Savior; *dwell* on Him. Let the memories of His covenants, and His faithfulness to you, become the foundation for your next step.

A Little Prep Skill for Today

Here’s a small challenge for your personal study this week: I recommend spending five minutes journaling, but don't write about what you *want* God to do. Instead, list five specific, tangible ways God has been faithful to you in the last year. Keep them concrete—a specific kindness, a moment of peace, a breakthrough in understanding. Let that list be your spiritual armor.

If you want to deepen this study, check out David Guzik’s commentary on Psalm 37. It offers some wonderful context to chew on. And remember, when you're ready to discuss these concepts further, the **HolyPlaces** Book Clubs and Bible Study Groups are waiting—a perfect place to build up our collective spiritual strength!