My husband and I have some pretty amazing friends. We have a friend named Dan that has served in busy church callings as long as I have known his family. His wife is also amazing and together they make an incredible team. One Sunday evening, we had them over to hang out and he shared a story with my husband and I that I reflect on often.

Dan had a young family and was finishing his thesis paper for his Master’s Degree that was due that day. He had all his papers in organized piles all about the floor of the room that he was working in. As he was working, he looked down to his phone and noticed that he had missed a call from a bishopric member and, of course, he called him right back. Unfortunately, he did not pick up and Dan ended up having to leave a message on his answering machine. Just as he finished leaving the message, he turned around to find his three-year-old scattering the papers he had so carefully organized for his thesis paper around the room.

Immediately, he let his anger and frustration out and yelled things at his young son that he felt were terrible. The seriousness of his hurtful words became even more awful as he realized that he had not yet hung up the phone and the entire angry outburst was left on the bishopric member’s answer machine.

A million thoughts rushed through Dan’s mind in the next minute. These thoughts went so far as to consider breaking into their home and steal their answering machine to prevent his leader from hearing him talk to his son in such a way. After letting himself entertain this crazy thought for a few seconds, Dan shook it out of his mind and prepared himself to face this church leader at church the next day.

As he arrived to sacrament meeting, he and the bishopric member greeted each other. Dan was really worried about what this leader would say to him. But, as the greeted each other, the bishopric member lovingly shook his hand and asked, “Brother Garza, had a rough week, huh?” My friend lowered his head in embarrassment and said “yes”. Then that wise church leader told him, “Brother, we’ve all been there.”

This church leader could have said anything. He knew that my friend had already beat himself up enough, and instead of needing words of reprimand, he needed words of encouragement. Understanding words of the struggles of a young father trying to work, study, and fulfill busy church callings.

I have been planning to write about this for a really long time, but it never felt right to blog about until recently. I almost laugh because this is advice that I needed to hear for myself today. Today is a day of me learning over and over again about something that I am struggling with. Something that feels almost impossible to change about myself, but God keeps showing up to lovingly encourage me. He knows that I can be different from what I am currently.

How many blog posts have I talked about doing hard things? So many. Yet, I am really stuck in a place feeling like I am not enough to make the necessary changes I am being encouraged to make. These are all the things I tell those I love. Of course you are enough! God will make up the difference when you make the effort.

Today I felt especially vulnerable wondering how on earth I can become what He has shown me what I need to become. I have erred frequently and it seems like no matter how hard I desire to be what He shows me I can be; I am constantly falling short.

Today, He has given me the most wonderful day filled with grace, love, and patience. I started the morning posting a blog post that I worked on yesterday and this morning. In this blog post, He showed me very clearly how much He is there, and most especially in the hardest times of my life. Then I had a friend advocate for me in such a way that I felt seen, and very loved in all of the many ways that I use my energies for my family. Then I got to teach a lesson with the Sister Missionaries in my area. I love to teach the Gospel with them. Missionaries are some of my favorite people.

Today, this sweet Sister missionary talked about who she was before she came out on her mission. She talked about how much she has changed and how change was so difficult for her. This young woman left all of the comforts of home and put her life on hold to come out and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the other side of the United States. She has found great joy in her life because of the Book of Mormon and she has received a testimony of this book.

The Spirit was in the room testifying of her words, but for me, they testified in a different way. The Spirit testified to me that yes, change is hard. But Kista, you do hard things all the time. I am not asking you to do anything harder than what you have already done. I am here with you. You are not alone. You can do this. I know you will.

Friend, I want to tell you that Jesus Christ is your biggest advocate, friend, supporter, and encourager. Let Him in. He won’t shame you, He knows we do that enough to ourselves. He will lovingly support, carry, lead you. Allow Him to lead you to a beautiful path that you cannot even imagine exists. He knows the way. Follow Him.