Wrong Roads

There was recently a Mormon Message published on-line called "Wrong Roads" by Elder Holland.  I just finished watching it and can't seem to stop thinking about the message he shared.  He tells of an experience in travelling with his son.  They reach a fork in the road and pray about which way to go and pray.  They both feel strongly to take the road to the right but soon find it was wrong.  They turn around and take the other road.  Elder Holland's son questions why they had received the prompting to take the wrong road.  His response was the Lord must have wanted them to know with confidence which road to take.  By taking the wrong road they were able to know without a doubt the other road was the right road to take.

I guess this message struck me because I can relate to the parable in so many instances in my life.  I often joke there is no reason to plan my life because my plans are always changed from what I originally wanted to do.  Am I unhappy because of this?  Quite the contrary!  I have gained a firm witness multiple times of the love of my Father in Heaven and the care and attention he gives to my personal life.  I always wanted to attend Ricks College and when it was changed to BYU-Idaho my enthusiasm increased.  After only three semesters I was strongly told to transfer to BYU.  I always thought I would marry like my mother did and would not need to consider a mission but a year before I turned 21 I was strongly told I would serve.  After fighting it for the next year, I turned in my papers and served in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The same pattern has followed with choosing a major and even deciding what to do after the mission.  In all of it, I know I have been guided.  Now facing the decision of the future I have tried different options.  Grad school, a career option, and in all of it Heavenly Father has led me down those paths only long enough for me to see it isn't what I want or should do.  Looking at the past and seeing this pattern also helps me have confidence to face the future.  I should add that I do have goals for the future and plans of what I want to be.  I still feel goal setting is important in our progression in this life.  The real challenge of this life is submitting and working with our Father in Heaven to become what we need to be.

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.  - Ether 12:27