When 'Leaning on Our Own Understanding' Becomes Our Biggest Worry

Brothers and sisters, if I’m being honest with you—and I always try to be—there are times when the weight of the world, or maybe just the weight of *your* world, feels too heavy to carry. We talk so much about the glorious promises of the gospel, about the power of the Spirit, and how God *will* make our path straight. And those promises are true, covenants are covenants, and the Savior is always there.

But what about the in-between moments? What about the quiet Sunday afternoon when the to-do list seems infinite, when the decisions pile up—the student facing a huge exam, the parent worried about a child's choices, the member struggling with finances, or maybe just the sheer, exhausting logistics of keeping life running?

It’s easy to get caught up in the *worry*. Worry is comfortable, isn't it? It feels productive. It makes us feel like we are *doing* something about the problem. It’s way easier to be concerned than it is to truly, wholeheartedly trust the Lord.

The message I was pondering this week—and I thought of you all as I was listening—is that what we worry about often reveals where we trust Him the least. It’s a gentle, loving spotlight on the area where we are instinctively leaning on our own understanding rather than fully surrendering to the Atonement.

The Proverbs 3:5 Challenge

We all know the verse, don't we? Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

It’s so easy to put on a coffee mug, right? It looks good. It sounds gospel-y. But actually *living* it? That’s the work. That’s where the real missionary preparation happens, whether you’re in the MTC, in a field, or right here in your living room doing your weekly scripture study.

When we feel that anxiety creeping in—the feeling that we need to have *all* the answers, that we need to have the perfect plan—that’s the whisper of our own understanding trying to take the reins. It’s the voice saying, "Wait, let's just analyze this situation one more time. Let's just figure out the loophole."

Let the Spirit Guide the Investigator

This is where I always think about our work as disciples, whether we are actively serving or simply trying to be better neighbors. When we are preparing for missionary discussions, or even just having a deep talk in a Book Club setting, the investigator might ask a question that requires us to acknowledge our own limitations. They might challenge our certainty, and we can’t just quote scripture; we have to *live* the principle.

This is where I keep thinking about using Davee. When you’re prepping for a difficult conversation, asking Davee to run through the potential hard questions—the ones that make you sweat a little—is invaluable. It forces you to move past the easy answers and really articulate the covenant path. It’s practicing the art of acknowledging what you don't know, and trusting Him anyway.

The key takeaway today isn't that worry is bad—worry is natural. The key takeaway is that *where* we focus our worry tells us where we need to redirect our trust. If we are constantly worried about the next hurdle, the next grade, the next financial patch, it might be a signal that we haven't fully acknowledged Him in the *process* of getting there.

How to Wait Well

The gospel doesn't promise an easy path; it promises a Savior who walks with us through the wilderness. Waiting well means actively choosing to trust Him with the unknowns. It means turning that anxious energy—that urge to control the outcome—and channeling it into something sacred: scripture study, service, or simply prayer.

If you’re wrestling with this right now, I invite you to take a moment. Don't try to solve the problem. Instead, take that worry, that heavy thing on your mind, and offer it up. Acknowledge it, and then consciously say, "Lord, I can't see the whole path, but I trust Your hand."

If this message resonated with you, I encourage you to dive deeper into this topic. Check out the social scripture study layer in LivingBook—it’s a wonderful way to see how others are wrestling with these very principles right now. Or, if you're ready to put this into practice, consider joining a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces with friends who are also trying to learn how to wait well.

For those of us who are still in the early stages of missionary preparation, let’s commit to this week: Before we worry about the *what*, let’s focus on the *who*. Who are we trusting? It’s Him. Let's keep moving forward in the work!