Am I Becoming Who God Wants Me to Be?
Your answer may vary now, but there’s a way to make it a resounding “Yes!”
There are times I’ve wished God could hold my hand through life.
If I had constant yes or no answers to every question, and if everything were black and white, how could I go wrong? Wouldn’t that mean I’d become exactly who I had the potential to be?
The answer might seem like an obvious yes, but when you think about it, having someone dictate all of your choices wouldn’t change you. It wouldn’t shape your integrity, character, or heart.
God wants us to become more than we are now, but how can we know if we’re on the path to progress when life offers so many different paths?
Guiding vs. Compelling
Some things are clear-cut, like relying on Jesus Christ, keeping our covenants, and obeying the commandments. These are essential for our eternal salvation. When we follow them, we are promised the Holy Ghost as our guide, including in the more ambiguous decisions.
However, the Holy Ghost is meant to guide, not compel.
Here’s an analogy that’s helped me understand this: Guidance is like using a map. You have a starting point and a destination. Along the way, there are steps to take and some important right and wrong turns, like commandments. Some wrong turns will put us on a detour. But often there are multiple roads that can get us to our destination in the same amount of time.
A map offers guidance, not control.
Now imagine that you’re in the passenger seat of a car with no say in where you’re going. Every turn is made for you. You can’t choose for yourself.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently taught: “God will be disappointed if we do not rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Savior to magnify the God-given abilities we have received. With His loving assistance, He expects us to become the best version of ourselves.”
Notice he mentions “loving assistance.”
Part of becoming who God wants us to be is learning to choose the covenant path back to Him. As Christ taught, “It is not meet that I should command in all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26). Through our choices, we are constantly deciding who we are becoming and where we’re headed. If we “[yield] to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mosiah 3:19), we will be guided toward becoming who God wants us to be.
Who Are You Choosing to Be?
With so many good options, how do we know which “turns” are the ones God wants us take?
Mormon sums it up well: “That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God” (Moroni 7:13).
Elder Renlund taught, “[God] expects us to use our gifts, talents, and abilities to bless the lives of Heavenly Father’s children.”
In his talk, Elder Renlund related a story about Zusya of Anipol. On his deathbed, Zusya wept, fearing what God would ask him after death. He didn’t fear being asked, “Why weren’t you Moses?” or “Why weren’t you Abraham?” He knew he wasn’t supposed to be them. No, he was afraid he would be asked, “Why weren’t you Zusya? Why didn’t you become the man you had the potential to be?”
When that same fear sets in for us, we can identify what talents and gifts the Lord has blessed us with. And, instead of burying them away, we can develop them! By trusting the Savior and using our talents to bless and uplift others, we are becoming who God wants us to be.
This encouragement brings me hope: “For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:28).
If you are striving to keep the commandments, using your talents to bless others, and allowing the Savior to change your heart, are you becoming who God wants you to be?
Pray and ask! I believe you’ll find a loving, resounding “Yes!”