Patience, Perseverance, and Prayer

President Nelson recently shared three lessons at the new year for pursuing our resolutions in the new year that come from his experience deep sea fishing. He wrote, “For me, deep sea fishing has been infrequent but instructive. Success requires patience, persistence, and prayer. As we begin this new year and make resolutions to improve things in our lives, these three requisites for successful fishing can help us.” In discussing patience he said, “As with fishing, real change requires time — and often a lot of time. It is tempting to expect immediate results and then become disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as planned. This may be why the Apostle Paul counseled us to ‘run with patience the race that is set before us’ (Hebrews 12:1).” I love that verse from Paul on how we should pursue our goals in life. We run to show our determination, but it is a long-distance race and not a sprint. It takes great patience to keep going figurative mile after mile as we work to become more like the Savior. Recently my family went to a park that had a forty-yard dash set up where you could time yourself running it. That was fun and we all tried to see how fast we could go (and I thought I had a decent time until I learned what NFL players can run it in!). But running that short distance a few times—no matter how fast—does little to get us in shape. In the same way, short and fast attempts at gaining spirituality or other developing Christlike attributes or other skills will not do much for us. I love how President Oaks put it: what we need “is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” To win the race, patience and steady dedication are required, just like in deep sea fishing.

               Related to patience is the second lesson from President Nelson: “Be persistent. Keep at it, even when things get difficult. Push through the tough times and realize that even small victories mean you are having success. The Savior ‘waxed strong in spirit’ (Luke 2:40) as He grew older. We too can wax strong in spirit and in our talents and habits if we persevere.” That description of the Savior waxing strong in the spirit summarizes much of his first thirty years, and it is perhaps instructive for us that even the Son of God had to prepare for many years before His ministry began. The JST gives us more detail about this time for him in these words: “And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come. And he served under his father, and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him. And after many years, the hour of his ministry drew nigh” (JST Matthew 3:24-26). I believe the Savior was preparing for all those years as He “waited upon the Lord” by communing with the Father and continuing “from grace to grace, until he received a fulness” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:13). We can wax strong in the spirit only as we show patience and persistence in seeking after the Lord and becoming more like Him.

               The final lesson from President Nelson was that we must be prayerful. He said, “Be prayerful. Call upon God for the strength you need as you labor diligently to become a better version of yourself — a better disciple of Jesus Christ, a brighter light in the world. For ‘they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:31).” I love the verse that is the youth theme for this year: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). To obtain His strength, the first step is to pray with all our hearts, recognizing that we need His help in all that we do. To obtain any worthy goal, we must pray first and then continue to pray as we work to achieve it, recognizing our dependence on Him.  Indeed, we must “Pray always, that [we] may come off conqueror” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:5). Whatever we are trying to accomplish in 2023 to draw closer to the Lord, it will take patience, perseverance, and much prayer.