"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13)

I mentioned that I have been going to physical therapy (read here). I now go twice a week. It is so painful at times and yet I know I need to the help to be stretched and strengthened. My physical therapist, George Shirley, the owner of Fast Track Physical Therapy, knows exactly what he is doing. He has a masters degree in athletic training and a doctorate in physical therapy. He is smart, kind, funny, honest and encouraging. It is so nice to be able to trust in his ability to help me get my full range of motion back. I really have to trust him. He will hold my arm and I must completely relax it in order for him to stretch it and move it so that I can get improved range of motion. Trust in George's knowledge and ability is paramount especially when he stretches my arm and it hurts- not sharp pain, but the kind of pain I know will give me improved movement and stability. I have to trust that he knows how much weight I should add or what exercises I should be doing on my own so that progression will take place...even when there is pain. I must "trust and then go and do" (see Trust in the Lord, Then Go and Do).

Of course doing physical therapy twice a week has led me to pondering about trust, trusting in the Lord to guide us and lead us along, even when it's painful. He knows exactly how far to stretch and push us so that we will get stronger. He knows how much weight we can bare. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Just as I must trust George to stretch my arm just the right amount and not too much, we must also trust the Lord that He will stretch us and give us the right load to bare so that we may become stronger. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). We become stronger with the help of Christ! Even when there is pain, we increase in strength, ability to reach, and range of motion- both literally and symbolically.

Me with my PT- George Shirley

Elder Henry B. Eyring said this about trusting in the Lord: "You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer...you will find it. And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you". (Trust in the Lord, Then Go and Do). 

As we "trust in the Lord" with all our hearts, he will strengthen us and shall receive "full range of motion". "For with God nothing shall is impossible" (Luke 1:37).

I can lift my arm! Each time I go, trust George, endure, and do the exercises on my own I can raise them higher each time!

Here a just a couple of scriptures that come to mind on this topic that may aide you in your own study of trusting in the Lord:

"Blessed are they that put their trust in Him" (Ps. 2:12)

"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high power" (Ps. 18:2).

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation" (2 Nephi 22:2; Isaiah 12:2). 

"God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect" (2 Samuel 22:33)

"But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him" (Mosiah 29:20).

Know you are loved!!!

"Out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33)

I have been doing physical therapy (or PT-for pain and torture, as one friend called it) to aide in the recovery of my shoulder surgery these past couple of weeks. There is a lot of very small movements involved with PT. These small movements actually, when properly and regularly done, make a great difference. A month ago I could only move my arm about two inches from my side, and it was horribly painful. Well, I have made progress. I can almost lift my arm to shoulder height, almost, with not quite as much pain. Those small movements do make a big difference! This, of course, led me to thinking about the power in doing "small and simple things" (Alma 37:6).

Small and simple things...what exactly does that mean when it comes to living the gospel and being a disciple of Christ daily? For me, it has come to mean that I make time to do the things that everyone sometimes thinks as "the same old answers". This would include: praying (see D&C 31:12; D&C 88:126; 3 Nephi 18:19; Luke 18:1; 3 Nephi 18:18; ), personal scripture study (see 2 Nephi 32:3; 2 Nephi 31:20; D&C 26:1), acting in faith (see Romans 1:17; James 2:18; D&C 8:10; Moroni 7:25-26; Alma 44:4), or repenting (see 3 Nephi 11:17; Moses 6:50; D&C 19:4; Mosiah 4:10; Ezekiel 18:30-31; Matt. 3:2) to list just a few of those "same old answers". These small and simple things that are taught over and over in church, and by our parents and leaders, well, these are what bring "great things...to pass" (Alma 37:6).

Doing my PT exercises daily has made great improvements in my physical ability to move my arm. This is the same with doing the small things that God has given us to do. When we exercise faith by doing the small things over time we "see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29). I'll be honest, it took me a little bit of time to understand this concept with PT. I wanted to see incredible changes overnight. And I really wanted to do just one big thing, not a bunch of small things (see 2 Kings 5:13). I may get weary of doing the exercises, the same small things over and over, but Wow! they make a great difference. Therefore, this I testify that as we "be not weary in well-doing" we will truly come to know that "out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33).