Be patient - It's only four minutes

I checked both the front and back doors of my home to make sure everything was locked as I rushed out the door in a hurry to act on an impression I had received moments before. Little did I realize I had forgot to check and see if I had my keys before closing the door. I reached into my bag to grab my car keys when I realized they were no where to be found and I had left them in on the table, the table in my LOCKED house! Oh no, I was already in a hurry and then I started doubting the plans and instruction Heavenly Father had given me moments before. I frantically went around the house checking all the doors and windows just to be sure there wasn't a way to get in. Even though I was in a skirt and high heels, I was willing to do whatever it took to get into the house so I could follow the direction the Lord had spoken to me. 

My dad had left the house a little while before I, to pick up my mom from work. It was 7:20 and I knew my mom's meeting wasn't over until 7:30 and that was all the way downtown. I'm doomed I thought. I kept asking Heavenly Father why this was happening when it wasn't fitting into the plan he had given me. I was so frustrated, it was cold outside and it could start to rain at any moment. I didn't know what to do. I was thinking of where to run to so I could at least have warm shelter. I started to amble down the street when the Spirit whispered to me "Text your dad" that was a weird thought, he wasn't going to be home for at least another hour. What good would that do? But I couldn't deny it so I wrote "Are you coming straight home after picking up mom? I just locked myself out of the house." He replied instantly "Be there in 4 min."

My heart rejoiced. That was something so unexpected. Turns out my mom had received an offer to get a ride home. Coincidence? I think not! In fact I know not. All those moments when I was so frustrated, so upset and wondering why He had given me instruction to follow if He wasn't even going to make it possible to fulfill. The moment my father returned, my heart rejoiced! I could be warm and proceed with accomplishing the thing which I had been commanded. It was in that moment that I knew that this was Heavenly Father teaching me a lesson or three.

Was it just by chance my dad said he would be home in FOUR-MINUTES and that I texted him in that moment that he could reply with that response? ABSOLUTELY NOT! When I read those words, the talk "Your Four Minutes" flooded my mind. I knew that God was trying to teach me that I need to give it my all. This life thing is really a blink of an eye in an eternal perspective. It was a chance for me to evaluate if I am really giving the Lord all that I possibly can at this time.

Second lesson, He was teaching me patience. I was locked out of the house all but 10 minutes. I panicked and questioned everything He had told me moments before. I was mad, I was frustrated, I was upset with myself for not being more observant before I shut the door. I was already having a day full of emotions and I started making a bigger deal out of this situation in my mind than was really necessary. What did Heavenly Father desire to teach me. Patience - His ways and His plans are absolutely so pure and perfect. He is in the every detail of our lives. He cares. He loves us. He is never too far and you are never forgotten. I have a really hard time believing this and being patient when all I can see is the trial in front of my eyes and the big heavy rain clouds above my head that look like they are about to drop at any moment. I can't always see what He is doing. I don't understand the situation so I doubt and I panic. But there is ALWAYS hope just down the road. Our Heavenly Father will ALWAYS come to the rescue, just like my earthly father came to mine! He saw my father was just down the street and He gave me the guidance needed to ensure I knew that as well. Do we open our hearts and turn to Him in times when it seems there is no hope from what we can see? Do we stay patient and trust that Heavenly Father loves us perfectly and knows exactly what He is doing? 

The thing about doubt and fear is that these emotions come from the adversary, always! So when it starts to enter our mind, one doubt can feed another and another and so on until we become swallowed up and we are in the power of Satan to influence our thoughts even further. No wonder patience is a virtue and a Christ-like attribute we must strive to obtain. The more we act in faith and trust, the closer we come to Christ, and isn't that our main goal anyways?

Okay third and last lesson, Nephi 3:7 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he  commandeth them." Don't you love this scripture?!  Anything that God asks of us, any direction He gives us, it's not just going to lead us to a dead end. He doesn't say no so we are sent on a detour without an outlet. There will be new roads, new possibilities, and new answers and He will always help us to accomplish what needs to be done. Just as Heavenly Father asked me to do something then put a roadblock on my path, He also created a bridge for me to go over that block so I was able to accomplish exactly what He had instructed. It was a great lesson. The assignment wasn't easy, but I knew He was proud and that's what mattered, that's what made every moment of this lesson worth it!

Heavenly Father is GOOD, He is your Father who infinitely cares about you more than you will ever know. Come to know Him more and pray to see His hand in your life and you will, that I guarantee! 


P.S. In my institute class last night, this talk was brought up. I had never heard of it before. Then this morning when I got on Facebook, a friend had posted this mormon message. At first I thought, "wow that's crazy", then my stake president's words become very clear in my mind "There is no such thing as a coincidence". An overflowing feeling of love and joy filled my heart as I knew this was a message Heavenly Father needed me to hear. I watched it at least five times today. Perhaps you'll benefit from it's message as well! Enjoy!