I am by nature an observer. I have always been a person that watches people. If I see something that I think will help me I incorporate it into my life if I see something that doesn't work I try not to do that. I think this stems from my childhood. I like most people came from a bit of a rough background. I saw alot of what not to do. And I was desperate to learn what to do. Pres. Uchtdorf shared this story in his talk You are My Hands "One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.”
I have at times felt like this woman. I feel like I can relate to some of those who are struggling. I also feel like I can bring you hope. Because I have been on the receiving end of great pain...I offer the hope for you in my knowledge and testimony of the receiving end of healing through our Savior, Jesus Christ. When I talk about the the two Great Commandments...
Love God and Love your Neighbor...I know from experience that some of you will question in your minds the Love God has for you, because you too have been battered and used, scarred and abused. No matter where you are coming from the answer to your struggles and trials is the same. It is only in and through Jesus Christ that you can be saved!!! Not only from your sins and weaknesness but also saved or in other words Healed from the wounds you have incured while in this life. I have suffered from depression, low-self esteem, feelings of worthlessness, anger, jelousy, not feeling able to forgive others of certain things, not being able to forgive myself for certain things, I have suffered from pride and all it's attendant side effects. I have been paralized by fears. I spent so much of my life afraid of people...not be able to trust...afraid to love…They say that you have to know the way to show the way. I testify to you that I now know the way. And I want to spend the rest of my life showing the way to others. I want to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to help each one of you that need help. And what is the help that I have to offer? The wisdom and testimony I have gleaned from my experiences! So here goes. There are two truths that I am coming to know with absolute surety to be true:
1-"God is love"-----Everything the Lord does is because of love. Everything!!! We may not be able to see that right now but I know that this is true.
He loves you and He wants you back. When you have been abused it is difficult to grasp this concept of love. It is nevertheless still true!
2-God respects Agency....everything that has to do with the Lord is a choice that you make. You always have to choose Him. He will never force you
to choose His path...He will allow consequences to follow your bad choices but that is not to beat you up...it's to encourage you to understand that "wickedness
never was happiness". He loves us so much that He will let us choose to be miserable. He loves us so much that He will allow others to hurt us and exercise their
agency as well. Our Heavenly Father has no fear of the bad things that could happen to us in this life because He personally prepared and trained our Master physician.
The Savior can fix any problem, save any soul and heal any wound but that is on the condition that we come to Him!
The Savior not only pays the full price of all the sins of all the world...He pays back, in full, the person that has been sinned against!!!!
He can heal you so completely, so fully that you will not be able to hold anything over the head of the person that injured you no matter how horrible the offense. Not only that
you will actually feel sorry for them and be filled with compassion for them and the welfare of their soul...most people who abuse others have been abused themselves. In so many ways we are all like little children...if we get hit or hurt we tend to hit or hurt back...sometimes we are more tender and we just take it without returning the injury but we remain damaged by the offense. I promise that healing will come...it may take some time...it may come in steps and stages but it will come...because He has promised it!!
I bet that none of you who know me could have guessed that I have struggled as I have. That is because you only see what I have become and am becoming because of the Savior's Atonement. That is the Power of HIs Love! It truly is a miracle that the Lord will work on us, if we'll let Him. I am here to testify to you that He is the Way, the only way. There is no other way!!!!
He has healed me!!! In the place of anger, frustration, doubt, despair, depression, fear, insecurities, hate, sin, pride...etc...I am now filled with Love (even pure love or Charity) Faith in the Savior and knowledge that He can truly do what He promises in the scriptures
for me. I know that He will do the same for all who come unto Him with full purpose of heart. I am now filled with Hope, Joy, Peace that surpasseth all understanding!!!
I feel to sing the song of redeeming love!!! I am coming to know that all that He has promised can be mine and yours if we just exercise a partical of faith in Him and His
ability to fix us. Even if you can no more than just hope that what I am saying is true. Plant that seed of hope in your heart and let it work within you...test it and prove it.
I testify to you that He can help you no matter what it is you are dealing with.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With Great Love-
Aimee
