lies vs. truth

It is my experience
That the adversary
Likes to use
The lies that I believe
Just enough
And amplify them
To discourage me.
And during
One of these times,
I wrote
A note to myself.
With the hopes that
I would start recognizing
The patterns sooner.

Lie #1:
I’m not enough.

The lies sound like:
Despite my best efforts,
I’ve messed things up
Beyond repair.

I wasn’t enough
To keep my parents
From getting divorced
And I’m not enough now.

I gave my all
But it was too little,
Too late.

I’m not enough
As a mom
And my kids are doomed
Because of my flaws.

The truth is:
I was enough then.
I am enough now.
And I will be enough later.
Maybe different amounts
But always enough.

The truth sounds like:
I am powerful
But not powerful enough
To ruin God’s plan.

And the Savior can
Fix
Mend
Heal
Lift
Anything:
Hearts
Mistakes
People.

I’m not more powerful
Than He is.

Jesus was always the plan
So I could make mistakes
To learn
And become.

And He thinks
That my offering
However big or small
Is more than enough.

Action:
When I’m spiraling,
I need to
Remember to
Stop and listen
For the whispers of the Spirit
And goodness
Amidst the yelling
Because they are there.
Just quieter.

They might be
Quiet invitations
To read
To listen
To seek Him
To pray
To ask for a blessing.

I need to
Remember the story
Of the loaves and fish (1)
And turn my efforts over to Jesus.

I need to
Remember that
He can multiply
My tiniest efforts.

I need to
Remember how
President Russel M. Nelson said
To seek and expect miracles. (2)

Lie #2:
I’m all alone.

The lies sound like:
I have to do everything myself.

No one else
Is going to clean this.
And not only that
But they’ll never learn how.
Because I am a bad teacher.

No one else cares.

They probably left their stuff
Here on purpose
Because they think
I have nothing else to do
But clean up after them.

The truth:
I can choose
To do things
On my own
But I’m not alone.
So I can choose
Something else.

The truth sounds like:
I’m never alone.

Jesus is always with me
Just like
He promised
He would be. (3)

I am surrounded by
Friends and family
And community
And angels
On earth and in heaven.
And they are here
To support me.

And my family does care.
Even if they are messy.
Both can be true.
Because they are busy too.

And they will learn how to clean
Eventually.
Probably.
But if not,
It’s not because
I didn’t try
To teach them.

Action:
I need to
Remember to
Reach out to loved ones
Because they are always there.

Remember the times
That someone helped me.
And especially
The times that
Someone did something
For me
That I couldn’t do for myself.

Especially that one time
When Someone did something
I could never do for myself. (4)

How to recognize the lies

The lies feel like:
Loud
Tumultuous
Consuming
Oppressive
Suffocating
Dark
Full of hate
And shame
And despair.

They make me feel like
It’s hard to breathe.

The lies invite me to think:
All is lost.
There is no hope.
There is no point in trying.
It will always be like this.
Nothing will ever change.
There is no solution.

The lies make me want to:
Do nothing.
Stay in bed.
Give up.
Hide.

How to recognize the truth

The truth feels like:
Quieter
But more powerful.
Steady and calm.
Leaves room for breathing.
Supportive.
Light.
Full of love
And acceptance
And patience
And grace.
Just like His voice.

The truth invites me to think:
With curiosity.

Maybe it won’t always
Be like this.

Maybe I can
Try something differently.

Maybe there is room
To learn and grow.

Maybe
All is not lost
Because of Jesus.

And because of Jesus,
There is always hope.

The truth makes me want to:
Reach out and share
And connect with others.
Find the humor.
Keep going.
Keep trying.
Focus on goodness.
Focus on gratitude.
Focus on Him.

-Signed, Me

(1) Read about the loaves and fish here

(3) John 14:18

(4) Listen to a song about Gethsemane here