When the Answer is Delayed: Understanding Spiritual Blockades in the Work

Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt it? You’ve studied the scriptures, you’ve prayed until your knees ache, you’ve felt the warmth of the Spirit during a missionary discussion, and you are so certain—so *sure*—that you know the answer to the question an investigator is struggling with. You feel like the light is right there, just beyond your grasp. But then, the answer doesn't come. It feels stalled. You wonder, "What's wrong? Did I miss something? Is the Spirit withholding?"

It’s a feeling every returned missionary knows intimately. We’ve been taught that the Spirit guides, that our earnest desire opens the doors, but sometimes, the process feels less like a gentle unfolding and more like wrestling with invisible resistance.

The Delay is Not a Denial

Recently, I was pondering this very thing after hearing a talk by Jonathan Cahn. He spoke of Daniel, who was waiting for a profound revelation. The message was clear: the answer was coming, but it was being held back by a powerful force—the "prince of the kingdom of Persia."

What struck me most wasn't the geopolitical drama, but the principle: The angel was *prevented* from coming for 21 days. The answer wasn't withdrawn; it was *delayed* by an opposing spiritual force. This is a powerful lesson for us as we serve in the field, whether we are in an MTC setting, working with a district leader, or simply trying to teach a friend about the restored gospel.

When we feel that spiritual blockage—when the breakthrough seems perpetually out of reach—it’s easy to interpret it as divine rejection. But the scriptures teach us that sometimes, what appears to be a delay is actually a spiritual battleground. The answer is en route, but there is a principality, a misunderstanding, or a pattern of thought that must be wrestled against first.

Wrestling Against Principalities

Paul reminds us, and it’s a passage we need to meditate on often: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers, against potestates, against all kraken in the heavenly places."

When we approach our own missionary preparation, we are training not just to recite facts, but to navigate these spiritual realities. We are learning to discern the difference between a genuine intellectual hurdle and a spiritual resistance. This is where the work of the Holy Places and the resources available to us become invaluable.

If you are wrestling with a concept—say, understanding the nature of the Atonement, or how to best explain the Plan of Salvation—don't just rely on surface-level knowledge. Dive deep. Use the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook. See how others have highlighted passages, and read the related insights. Let the Book Club format guide you through the deeper currents of scripture.

This principle—that delay means a battle is being fought—is incredibly encouraging. It means that our persistent, earnest effort, our commitment to be Christlike, is recognized, even if the immediate results aren't visible. We keep praying, we keep studying, and we keep showing up.

The Disciple Anywhere

Remember the core truth of our movement: every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time.

If you’re feeling discouraged because a particular teaching isn't clicking, or you feel like you've hit a spiritual dead end in your own efforts, I invite you to connect with us. We are building a community where we can work through these tough questions together. If you're ready to practice tackling those hard questions, check out Davee. He’s been trained in the AI Investigator role, and he’s ready to walk you through the tough questions an investigator might ask, helping you refine your answers so you feel confident and Spirit-filled.

Let’s keep our focus on the Savior, keep our hearts humble, and trust that even when the answer seems delayed, the Lord is preparing the way for a glorious breakthrough. Keep gathering Israel, friends.

For a practical skill this week: When you feel yourself getting frustrated in your studies, pause. Take three deep breaths and whisper, "What is the Spirit asking me to *do* right now?" Don't ask what you *should* know; ask what you *should* feel or do next.

If you want to continue building your foundation in deep scripture study, I highly recommend revisiting the teachings on the role of the Spirit found in the Iron Rod authors available in LivingBook. It’s a powerful reminder that the Spirit is our guide through every principality.