Sharpening the Blade: Finding Time for the Source of Our Strength

Have you ever felt like you’re running on fumes? Like your schedule is a relentless conveyor belt of commitments—school drop-offs, work deadlines, managing the household, keeping up with friends, and trying to keep the gospel front and center? It feels like there’s no pause button, right?

It’s easy, when we’re deep in the hustle, to treat our spiritual life like just another item on the to-do list—something we’ll get to *after* the laundry, *after* the kids are settled, *after* the work week is done. We become like the woodsman in the story we heard recently: focused so intensely on the task (chopping wood) that we ignore the fundamental need to sharpen the tool (the axe).

But the Spirit whispers a gentle, yet firm, reminder, echoing the words of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This isn't just a suggestion for a quiet Sunday afternoon; it’s a divine principle for sustained discipleship. The message is profound: Our strength—the kind that allows us to endure the challenges of the field, the kind that helps us teach the restored gospel, the kind that helps us keep our covenants—doesn't come from our sheer willpower or the efficiency of our planning. It flows directly from the quality and priority of our relationship with Heavenly Father.

The Relationship Must Be the Priority

When we make that relationship the absolute priority, the benefits ripple outward in ways that feel almost miraculous. We aren't just "getting time"; we are recalibrating our entire source of power. We find a peace that lets us let go of stress, a clarity that helps us see better ways to manage our time, and a deep sense of self that reconnects us to our core values.

Think about it through the lens of the missionary effort. You can study scriptures all day, you can memorize doctrinal points, you can even nail a mock missionary discussion with a companion, but if the wellspring—that personal, intimate connection to the Father—is dry, the words feel hollow. The Spirit can’t flow through an empty vessel.

A Lesson for the Rogue Disciples

This principle is vital for us, the Rogue Disciples. We are called to be Internet missionaries, disciples everywhere, all the time. We are often juggling full-time jobs, families, and our covenants. It's easy to feel like we don't have the "time" to pause. But the story of the woodsman teaches us that *not* pausing to connect is the very thing that makes us ineffective in the long run.

If you feel overwhelmed this week, don't try to power through on fumes. Take 10 minutes. Don't aim for deep doctrinal study (though that’s wonderful!). Just aim for connection. Talk to your Heavenly Father. Tell Him about the stress, the confusion, the challenges you faced with an investigator this week, or even just the mundane things that made you smile. Confide in Him.

That small act of intentional pause—that act of remembering Him first—is the sharpening of the axe. It’s what allows you to approach your next teaching moment, your next challenging conversation, or even just your next cup of coffee, with divine power flowing through you.

Where to Sharpen Your Axe This Week

As we continue to build up our capacity to be disciples in every corner of the earth, I want to encourage you to dedicate a small, non-negotiable pocket of time this week just for stillness. It doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to be intentional.

• For the Pre-Missionary: Use your study time not just to learn facts, but to *feel* the Spirit while studying them. Ask your district leader or a companion to help you focus on the *feeling* of the covenant, not just the words.
• For the Lifelong Disciple: Try a "Sacred Silence" challenge. Set a timer for 15 minutes, put your phone away, and just sit in the presence of the Spirit. Don't try to solve anything; just *be* with Him.
• For Everyone: Check out the HolyPlaces community. Sometimes, finding a small, dedicated group for a Book Club or Bible Study can create the perfect container for that sacred pause together.

Remember, our strength is not ours. It is a gift, sustained by the covenant relationship we maintain with our Father. Let's commit this week to prioritizing that source above all else.