Want

                             To Be Found Wanting

             The princess couldn't sleep because a pea was pressing into her hyper-sensitive back.  She was found wanting. There are little irritations pressing on everyone. Like tiny rocks in our shoes, we writhe in discomfort at small plans gone south, misunderstandings blown out of proportion, and splintered relationships refusing to mend. Our life is found wanting. 

It happens to everyone. Nephi was a strong, spiritual man but after years of strife with his brothers, he found his life wanting.

2 Nephi 4:17   Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in 

showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.  O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?  And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way--but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.  O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

   Why should our soul sorrow and our strength slacken? Awake! Awake to the path our Savior has paved. Awake to the blessings he holds out to each child of God. Awake to the inner path that leads to his heart, by way of our heart, where he desires to abide. There is nothing there to find wanting.

                                                   

   I have been writing with the Five Minute Friday Group for two years and I really enjoy the talented writers who share their work. Would you like to join?