Stuck in addiction. Stuck in shame. Stuck in trauma. Stuck in anger. Stuck in forgiveness.

Add your stuck place to the list. How do we get unstuck? I’m going to retell a story that Disney spun so wonderfully and see if we can figure out how to become unstuck.

There once was a princess. She had a little sister, and they were very close. One day, they were playing and the princess accidentally hurt her little sister. You see, she had magic. While they were playing, she used her magic that she wasn’t supposed to use. She accidentally hurt her little sister.

Her parents grabbed her sister and took her to seek help. The princess was ashamed. She was scared. She was not able to forgive herself. She was terrified it would happen again.

So, her parents told her to conceal it. Don’t feel as when she would have big emotions, her magic would surface. She felt that she had to hold it in and to keep herself away from others. She thought this was the only way. She didn’t realize that they didn’t mean forever. They were on their own mission to find a cure.

They left to find it and didn’t come back. She was left alone to rule a kingdom with her secret. The day came for her to accept the crown. She was terrified. There would be crowds of people. Important people from all around the country. She knew she couldn’t get it wrong.

She had an argument with her sister and her magic came out in her frustration. She was mortified. This was the moment that she decided to leave all that she knew and go off on her own.

She had so much hurt. So much loneliness. It felt so good to finally use her magic without fear of hurting anyone. There was just one small drawback. She had to remain alone.

Let’s talk about the other sister now. This young girl lost her parents at a very young age. Her big sister would never leave her room. She felt so very alone.

The day her older sister was to accept the crown and rule the people was the first time that she was able to be around the people of their land.

Of course, she met a boy and thought she was in love after just a short time of being around him. The argument she had with her older sister was about getting married to him. She was so desperate to be loved that she was about to jump headfirst into a very tricky situation.

Both of these girls are full of hurt, loneliness and lack of love and attention. Factors definitely played a part in their situation. There is no doubt of that.

Circumstances will happen throughout our lives. They will be difficult. At times, they will seem unbearable. They can break us, or at least, it will seem that way.

I promise you that we are all made of stronger stuff than we feel capable of. God made us that way. He also doesn’t expect us to do it alone. He sends us angels. Angels from Heaven and angels on earth.

The most important thing that He gave to us is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came down to earth to live a perfect life. He was the perfect sacrifice. He did this to atone for the sins of the world. To atone for you and for me.

I am so grateful for this atonement. It is because of this very sacred sacrifice that I am able to be who I am today. I have made terrible mistakes. I have been stuck so badly that I was ready to make even worse mistakes. I didn’t really understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ back then. I thought I had messed it all up. I was unforgiveable. I had lost my chance to have my celestial kingdom. Just like the princess, I isolated myself and was ready to be alone forever.

Luckily for that princess, her little sister was in relentless pursuit of her. A leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints named Patrick Kearon gave a talk recently. It is titled: God’s Intent is to Bring You Home.

I would love for you to watch, listen to or read this powerful talk. It speaks of a wonderful truth. I hope that you feel God’s love for you as you do. You are not alone. You are so loved. He is in relentless pursuit of you.

It is through the Atonement of Christ, and with the help of our heavenly angels and earthly angels that we are able to really let it go. Let it all go. The shame, the hurt, the trauma, the anger, the addiction. We can truly let it go through Jesus Christ’s Atonement. Have faith in Christ. He is the way. Because of Him, we can start again.

It will be hard. It will take time and very hard work. Be just as relentless in your pursuit of light as God is in pursuit of you. Find your earthly angels. Cling to them. Instead of holding onto the thing you need to let go of, cling to Christ. He is the light. Let it guide you. You will not regret it. I pray that this helps you. It helped me.

So, my friend, what are you holding onto that is keeping you from spreading your light?