Willingness is the Catalyst of Faith
I planted garlic the other day. Since I have never planted it before, I had my phone in one hand and the shovel in another. I’m still not sure I did it right and I hope to get a crop next year. Garlic is a bulb and needs to be planted in the fall so it can establish roots. Just like a tulip or crocus, garlic will come up in the spring. Each clove has the potential to become an entire head of garlic.
As I placed each clove into the dirt, I was reminded of faith in Christ. As with any seed or bulb, faith must be planted and nourished. But sometimes the seeds of faith grow slowly like garlic.
Faith in our Savior has been on my mind recently. I have wondered about my own faith and where it comes from. There have been moments in the past year where I seriously doubted my faith. This has been especially true when people close to me reject the beliefs they once held dear.
Elder Neil L. Andersen said that “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not something ethereal, floating loosely in the air”. Faith is not by Chance but by Choice But then why is it so hard to understand? And why do some people have faith and others do not?
Mirriam-Webster dictionary says faith is an allegiance, fidelity, belief, complete trust, and even a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Faith Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster That is similar to what is written in the first verse of Hebrews 11: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It is also reflected by Alma’s words in the Book of Mormon, “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. (Alma 32:21)
Elder Andersen continued, “… Faith emits a spiritual light, and that light is discernible. Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it.”
The key word is choose. Although “faith is a gift of God” Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is, at its core, a choice. In this last General Conference of the church, Elder Pearson said “Yet faith in Jesus Christ is a choice. ‘If [we] can no more than desire to believe’ in His words, we have a starting point to begin or to reset our journey of faith. His words, if planted in our hearts like a seed and nourished with great care, will take root and our faith will grow into assurance and become a principle of action and power. The Book of Mormon is our most powerful resource for growing and restoring our faith. Willingness is the catalyst of faith.” Are You Still Willing?
I love that phrase, willingness is the catalyst of faith. In the end, you will likely not have firm proof of the existence of God or that Jesus Christ is your Savoir. You just have to choose to believe. This choice launches us into action.
When speaking to his twelve disciples before His death, Christ said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also…” (John 14:12)
At an earlier time, teaching in the temple, Christ said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)
Faith has two components: belief and action. They feed off each other. If you want more faith in Christ, follow Him. If you have faith, you will naturally follow Him and then your faith will increase. Elder Andersen said, “Although your beginning fire of faith may be small, righteous choices bring greater confidence in God, and your faith grows.” He suggested that actions like, “prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness” will increase faith and the lack of those actions will diminish it. In this way, the current status of our faith in Christ is directly related to the choices we make everyday.
Understanding this has helped me come back to my faith in Christ. I made the choice, once more, to trust in God, even if I don’t see hard evidence for His existence. As I did that, I was filled with relief and peace. It was okay for me not to know for sure. Believing and continuing to choose God was enough.
Recently President Nelson said “I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth.” Choices for Eternity
“I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth.”
President Nelson
I realized that due to the chaos of raising small humans, I had fallen away from the spiritual habits. Children can take up so much time! It seems I hardly have a moment to myself. In an effort to change, I listen to and read the word of God while nursing my baby. I listen to uplifting messages with my spiritual ears, trying to see what God is telling me. As I do this, I have begun to more fully rely “completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love.” Faith in Jesus Christ Peace in my life has increased. I am more sure of my purpose and have more patience with my family.
As Peter declared about Jesus Christ of Nazareth, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10–12) Jesus Christ gives me hope, peace, purpose, and strength. It is only when I come back to Him, make Him a priority in my life, that I can handle what life has to give me. It is only then I can make it through the winters of my life to find the sprouted garlic in the spring. This is why I choose to put my faith in Him.
