The Power of the Limp: Finding Strength on the Journey with Christ

Fellow disciples, have you ever looked at a picture of a saint or a foundational figure in our faith, and felt a little bit of... secondhand embarrassment? Like, 'Wait, wasn't he supposed to be perfect?'

I was thinking about this recently, after watching a segment about the Camino de Santiago, and it really struck a chord. We often picture the journey with the Savior as this flawless, straight path of perfect adherence. We think of the polished testimony, the flawless conversion story. But the truth, as the scriptures and the lived experiences of the early disciples show us, is far more beautiful—and much messier.

We are taught to emulate Christ, and that is the ultimate goal of our discipleship. But if we look closely at the accounts of James, or any of the disciples, we see a pattern: they were deeply flawed. They argued, they were insecure, they wanted the best seats, and at one point, they even considered calling down fire on those who wouldn't believe them. Yikes. It’s humbling, isn't it?

Yet, Jesus never gave up on them. And that’s the core of what I feel the Spirit nudging us toward right now as we continue the work. The journey itself—whether it’s the physical miles of the Camino or the quiet, daily moments of missionary preparation—is what changes us. You can only fake it for so long before your true character, your true hurts, start to show.

The wonderful thing about journeying with Jesus is that He sees the limp. He sees the walking stick. He sees the moments where we feel like we have nothing to lean on. James’s journey transformed him. His desire for status became humility; his anger at rejection became compassion. His desire for power turned into a life of selfless service.

This is a powerful message for us, especially as we all strive to be Internet missionaries, to be disciples anywhere, all the time. We are constantly bombarded by messages—from social media, from society, even sometimes from ourselves—that tell us we are only worthy if we achieve the right results, craft the right body, or affirm the right messages. That is the opposite of the journey with Jesus.

James was loved when he was a mess. And being loved when you are a mess? That changes you. It allows you to move from the place of insecurity and petulance to a place of genuine, enduring service. It’s realizing that our inherent value isn't tied to our performance, but to the love that was first shown to us.

If you’re feeling the weight of expectation right now—maybe you’re struggling with a specific doctrine, or maybe you just feel like you’re stumbling on your own path—remember that you are on a journey. You need a walking stick, too. And that stick is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I encourage you all to take some time this week to reflect on your own "limps." What are the areas where you are still stumbling? Don't hide them. Bring them into the light, because that is where the Spirit begins to do the most beautiful, transformative work. We are all on this path together, leaning on the same Savior.

If this resonated with you, I’d love for us to discuss it further. We’re hosting a casual Bible Study Group this Thursday evening in HolyPlaces. It’s a great, low-pressure way to dive into some scripture and really talk through these kinds of deep, human truths. Come ready to share, but more importantly, come ready to listen to the Spirit!

For those who like to dig deeper into the doctrine, I highly recommend revisiting the teachings on the Atonement in the Iron Rod. It’s always good to have some solid foundational reading to anchor our thoughts.