From Ash to Miracle: Finding the Divine Pattern in Failure

Brothers and sisters, sometimes the most profound moments in the work don't arrive on schedule. They don't come after the perfectly executed plan, or when the missionary discussions go exactly as we rehearsed them. Sometimes, the greatest miracles are birthed from what feels like utter defeat.

I was reflecting this week on a recent conversation I stumbled across—a discussion between Dallas Jenkins, the creator of *The Chosen*, and Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. While the setting was the house of Caiaphas, the core message echoed something that resonates deeply with every returned missionary, every disciple serving in their own ward, and every one of us who feels the weight of expectation: the pattern of calling often follows the pattern of failure.

It was fascinating to hear how the incredible success of the series was said to emerge directly from a "cataclysmic failure" in its precursor work. It wasn't the initial attempt that brought the light; it was the response to the darkness that allowed the true story to manifest. It’s a powerful reminder, isn't it, of how we often view our own service?

The Gatherer's Role: Net or Divine Plan?

The conversation touched on the parable of the nets—the idea of gathering the fish and letting the divine process separate the good from the rotten. When Dallas spoke about his own role, he didn't claim to be the ultimate converter; he positioned himself as a gatherer, letting God work through the process. This struck a chord with me as I thought about our own efforts in the field.

“I'm not trying to convert you in my show... I'm not hoping.”

As disciples, we are called to be fishers of men. We are called to gather. But sometimes, our greatest struggle is resisting the urge to *control* the outcome. We can prepare diligently, we can study the scriptures until our fingers ache, we can practice our talks until they sound like hymns, but we must trust that the gathering itself is part of a divine process. We plant the seeds, we offer the testimony, we invite the discussion, but the Spirit—that’s the one doing the separating.

Embracing the Messiness of the Work

The speaker highlighted the difference between the formality of religion—the things that can get polished and placed behind stained glass windows—and the raw, messy reality of following Christ. To truly honor the Savior, we must engage with the whole story, the failures, the doubts, and the difficult questions.

This is the heart of being a disciple anywhere, all the time. It means being willing to let the work be messy. It means being willing to fail publicly, because that failure, if we learn from it and take it to the Lord, is often the very thing that propels us toward the next, greater revelation. Don't let the fear of imperfection keep you from sharing your testimony or from participating in a Book Club.

If you are feeling discouraged right now—if your efforts feel like they are hitting a wall, or if a specific mission preparation skill just isn't clicking—remember the narrative here: the breakthrough came after the perceived collapse. Keep showing up. Keep gathering. Trust the process.

For those of you who are ready to dive deeper into these themes of divine pattern and personal revelation, I highly recommend checking out the resources on LivingBook. If you're wrestling with the "why" behind a difficult question an investigator might ask, don't hesitate to bring it to Davee. He's ready to walk you through those hard questions using his AI Investigator skills.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’re looking for a place to deepen your study in the scriptures with others, join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. It’s a wonderful way to share insights from the social scripture study layer and build up our collective understanding of the restored gospel. Let's keep building up the kingdom, one honest conversation at a time.