Are you letting the Lord lead?

Let me lead!

I took a social dance class at college and loved it. I had danced my whole life but had never learned ballroom dance. The moves came easily to me and my dad credited it to the fact that, “I had dancing in my genetics,” because his parents were ballroom dance instructors. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the story of how his parents gave lessons to the Ford family of Detroit, Michigan.

Unfortunately, most of the boys I danced with did not have dancing in their genes. As a result I would just lead them instead of the other way around. We were required to switch partners for every dance so each time I came to a new partner I would assume my partner had no dancing skills and I’d just start leading. 

I switched partners again for the West Coast Swing and started the dance. “Stop leading!”,  I was surprised to hear my partner say. Up until this point every boy was grateful I knew what I was doing and that I led the way.  A few steps later he said it again.  I tried to relax and let him lead but I was so used to leading the dance I didn’t know how to switch. He started getting frustrated and pulled me to the side.  “I’m sorry,”  I explained,  “I thought I was letting you lead, but I guess I don’t know how to!”  

He told me that I just need to relax. The dance wouldn’t work well if we were both trying to lead at the same time because we’d end up trying to move in two different directions. He taught me how to respond to the pressure and slight movement of his right hand on my waist and left hand against my own. Things started to click and I learned how awesome it was to dance with a partner who actually knew how to lead.  I learned so much more, had a ton of fun, and became a much better dancer.

I realized that when I first started to learn ballroom I had it all wrong. I thought to succeed I had to learn the moves, take control, and know how to lead.  To be a good dancer I had to relax, trust, and learn how to follow my partner’s lead. 

Do you see yourself always trying to take the lead in life?  We don’t want to let anyone else lead because we’ve got this. We know what we are doing and if we give up our control who knows what disaster could happen?  We can’t trust anyone but ourselves.

But somewhere in the back of our minds if we are humble enough to hear, are the words, “Let me lead.”

Once we hear it we’ve still got some work to do. We are so used to leading that we don’t know how to relax and let the Lord lead. His guidance is so subtle that we have to learn how to feel it and respond. 

It is hard to give up control because we think it is weakness.  In reality it takes more strength to surrender and let the Lord lead.

“They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”

Helman 3:35 Book Of Mormon

Something was off.

The Lord tried to teach me this in another way.  I had been working on a big goal. I was having fun dreaming and taking action. I thought I had it all figured out but I kept feeling something was off. I had no idea what, so I decided I would pray about it during a solo 5 hour drive.  I prayed, listened, pondered, and asked as I drove, nothing came to me and the drive was almost over. I decided maybe I wasn’t going to get my answer or maybe I was just crazy. Then an image flashed into my mind. 

I was standing in front of a painting with a brush and palette in my hand. It was a self portrait. I almost had to laugh at this image because I am in no way an artist. If I ever attempted a self portrait it would be mistaken for a kindergarten art project. Then something else about the image came to my mind. The Savior was standing next to me trying to guide my hand. Every time He would try to lead my hand I would resist and push back as if I knew what the painting was supposed to look like, not Him.

I was acting on something I knew I was supposed to do, but I was forgetting to “seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand” Jacob 4:10. That realization hit me hard and I felt incredibly foolish. No wonder I felt something was off. I was a bit embarrassed it took me so long to figure it out. 

I was trying to take the lead again and trusting in my own wisdom instead of the Lord’s.  As I look back I have to shake my head at how silly I was in actually thinking that I knew better than the Lord.  I knew about His strength and power that I had access to but I chose to ignore it. 

I know I’m not alone in this. Most people don’t recognize the power they allow into their lives if they will turn to the Lord.  If it is you against the world that may look a little daunting but when it is you, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit vs. the world… it isn’t even a competition.

Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

2 Kings 6:16

 Do you see the army within you?  That is why we are told over and over again we don’t need to fear if we trust in the Lord and His will.

Let the Lord lead. Let him help you create the portrait of who you can become. It will be so much better than anything you can create on your own. 

How do we let the Lord lead?  

First

It sounds simple but asking the Lord to teach you how is a good first step. Humbling ourselves enough to do that will bring answers the Lord has been waiting to give. 

Second

Don’t make the mistake of waiting to move. Unless you are moving the Lord can’t tell you where to go. It is like that game “Hot or Cold.”  Something is hidden and the only clues you have is from the person who knows where it is. As you move around you are told “hot” or “cold.” As you listen and move you get closer and closer finding what you are looking for. If you stand still the person can’t give you any direction because you are neither hot nor cold, you just there. Take action and you’ll be directed as you do.

Third

“Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.”

“Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ”

Russell M. Nelson

A big part of of that “spiritual work” is improving scripture study and prayer. I recorded a 3 part video series on doing just that.  Go here to watch the first video. 

Remember that “whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25 What we can create by letting the Lord lead will be even greater than we could imagine. 

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