From the book “Essays of Hope and Encouragement” from Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
I speak, not to slackers in the Kingdom, but to those who carry their own load and more; not to those lulled into false security, who, though laboring devotedly in the Kingdom, have recurring feelings of falling forever short. Earlier disciples who heard Jesus preach some exacting doctrines were also anxious and said, “Who then can be saved?” (Mark 10:26)
The first thing to be said of this feeling of inadequacy is that it is normal. There is no way the Church can honestly describe where we must yet go and what we must yet do without creating a sense of distance. Following celestial road signs while in telestial traffic jams is not easy, especially when we are not just moving next door—or even across town.
In a Kingdom where perfection is an eventual expectation, each other’s needs for improvement have a way of being noticed. Perceptive Jethro had plenty of data to back up the crisp counsel he gave his son-in-law Moses. (See Exodus: 18.) Even prophets notice their weaknesses. Nephi persisted in a major task “notwithstanding my weakness.” (2 Nephi 33:11.) Another Nephite prophet, Jacob, wrote candidly of his “over anxiety” for those with whom he was not certain he could communicate adequately. (Jacob 4:18.) Each of our modern prophets have met those telling moments when they have felt as if they could not meet a challenge. Yet they did.
Thus feelings of inadequacy are common. So are the feelings of fatigue; hence, the needed warning about our becoming weary of well-doing. (See Doctrine and Covenants 64:33.)
The spiritual advice, “Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4) suggests paced progress, much as God used seven creative periods in preparing man and this earth. There is a difference, therefore, between being “anxiously engaged” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27) and being over-anxious and thus under-engaged.
Some of us who would not chastise a neighbor for his frailties have a field day with our own. Some of us stand before no more harsh a judge than ourselves, a judge who stubbornly refuses to admit much happy evidence and cares nothing for due process. Fortunately the Lord loves us more than we love ourselves. A constructive critic truly cares for that which he criticizes, including himself, whereas self-pity is the most condescending form of pity; it soon cannibalizes all other concerns.
The scriptures are like a developmental display window through which we can see gradual growth—-along with this vital lesson: It is direction first, then velocity! Enoch’s unique people improved “in process of time.” (Moses 7:21.) Jesus “received not of the fullness at first, but received Grace for grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:12) and even He grew and “increased in wisdom and stature” (Luke 2:52). ~Neal A. Maxwell, Essays of Hope and Encouragement (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1998). p. 113-114 (continued with “Not Withstanding My Witness II”).
