When I was a little eight-year-old girl, a church leader asked me what my favorite quality was about myself. Raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I replied giddily, “I have lots and lots and lots of faith.” At the time, I did not truly understand what faith meant. My faith was limited to the knowledge that Jesus loved me, and He would take care of me. However, as I grew and developed, so did my faith in Jesus Christ.
As a teenager, I regularly battled against overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and shame. Every day I tried my best to keep going even though I was suffocated by my doubts and fears. Afraid of exacerbating the pain by making a wrong decision, I found that making ordinary decisions was profoundly difficult. During this time, I often felt unclean and untouchable. Yet, someone was reaching out to wrap their arms around me.
Alone at night, I would cry out to my Heavenly Father seeking for some semblance of peace and healing. During one particularly painful prayer-filled night, He gave me the peace I needed. As I offered all my pains, doubts, and fears to my Heavenly Father, I was washed over with a wave of peace. For the first time in years, I was able to breathe deeply again without any shame weighing me down. With that feeling came the renewed knowledge that Jesus loved me, and that He was taking care of me. Starting that night, the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ became my hope.
Even though it has been years since that night, I still hold that same knowledge in my heart. Today, when I struggle with stress and doubt,
I remember how much Jesus loves me. Through His Atonement, I discover the peace and healing that I need every day.
Just like I did as a little eight-year-old, I have faith in Jesus Christ. I know without a doubt that He loves me, He hears me, He reaches out to me, and He will always take care of me.
