From Trying Hard to Training: Finding the Greater Reward in Our Progress

Have you ever found yourself in that frustrating loop? You make a New Year's resolution—maybe it’s about better finances, healthier habits, or dedicating more time to scripture study. You try so hard! You succeed for a week, maybe two. You feel like you’re finally *getting* it. And then, inevitably, you slip back into the old pattern.

It’s disheartening, isn't it? Like you’re running a race, but you keep tripping over the same hurdles. We get tired of *trying*. We get exhausted by the sheer willpower required to deviate from the status quo.

If you’re feeling that weariness right now—that sense that you’re just repeating the same struggles year after year—please know you are not alone. This is a universal human experience, and it’s exactly where the Spirit wants to guide us. We are moving beyond the mindset of 'trying' and into the reality of 'training.'

The message we’re wrestling with, drawn from the wisdom of the scriptures, is profound: it’s not enough to just *want* to change; we have to learn *how* to change. We need to shift our focus from the temporary desires of the moment to the eternal promises of the gospel.

The Difference Between Effort and Discipline

The speaker pointed to the powerful metaphor of the ancient Greek athletic games. The Corinthians understood competition; they understood discipline. They understood that winning wasn't just about the desire to win—it was about the rigorous, daily, sometimes boring, *training* that made the victory possible.

As Latter-day Saints, we are in a race, yes, but the prize isn't a temporary trophy; it's eternal glory, a prize that glorifies God. This changes everything. When we view our discipleship through that lens—through the lens of an eternal race—our efforts gain a different kind of fuel.

This isn't about perfection; it’s about *pattern*. It’s about establishing new, Spirit-guided patterns of thought and action that replace the old, comfortable, but ultimately limiting ones. It requires discipline, the kind that feels less like a struggle and more like natural alignment with the Spirit.

A Lesson for the Internet Missionary

This concept is vital whether you are preparing for your own mission, serving as a returned missionary, or simply engaging in the work right where you are—whether that’s across the kitchen table or through the digital connection of the Sovereign.ink network. We are all, in some capacity, internet missionaries.

If you feel stuck in a pattern—maybe it’s a habit of doubt, or perhaps it’s a pattern of keeping the gospel conversation superficial with an investigator—don't just try harder next time. Ask: What is the *training* I need? Where do I need to build discipline?

This is where the power of scripture study becomes our gym. Don't just read the scripture; study it until the pattern of truth becomes second nature. Use the tools available to you. Dive into a Book Club in HolyPlaces, or let Davee walk you through the hard questions an investigator might ask in a session with the AI Investigator role. These aren't just study sessions; they are reps for your spiritual muscles!

Remember the declaration: “With God’s help, we will choose what we want most over what we want now.” That choice isn't a one-time decision; it’s a daily, disciplined choice, moment by moment, year after year.

If you're ready to move from simply *trying* to *training*, I encourage you to start building that discipline today. Check out the Greater Reward Bible Plan linked in the description. Let’s commit to training for that eternal prize together.

What area of your life feels like it needs a new training regimen? Let’s discuss it in the comments, or better yet, join a local Bible Study Group this week!