Jesus is a Patient Teacher

As I surveyed the deep, rutted snow on my driveway at the end of March, I wondered if I should shovel, call a plow, or just wait for the warm sun. The problem brought to mind Aesop’s fable of the North Wind and the Sun.

The North Wind and the Sun had an argument about who had the most power. As they argued, a man wearing a cloak came walking down the lane. The Sun challenged the North Wind: whoever could convince the man to remove his cloak would be the victor. The North Wind tried first. He blew large gales, hard and strong. The man bent forward, walked faster, and pulled his cloak securely around him. Finally, the wind gave up.

Now it was the sun’s turn. The sun began putting out his warm, comforting rays. As the man warmed, he straightened up, and soon he loosened his cloak. As the sun’s rays became warmer, the man removed his cloak and sat to rest under the shade of a tree. The moral of the story is that kind persuasion wins where force fails.

I decided to wait for the warm sun, and sure enough, the snow slowly melted and disappeared.

Like the sun, Heavenly Father and Jesus are kind and patient teachers, who invite rather than demand.

A couple of years ago, I was invited to accept a church assignment. Because of extenuating circumstances, my life was quite unpredictable. I felt that I couldn’t complete this assignment. I counseled with my husband and clergy, and we all agreed that I should decline. Not two weeks later, the circumstances in my life changed dramatically. I had more than enough time for this assignment, which would have been a joy and a blessing to me. But I had missed the opportunity.

Six months later, I was invited to accept a different church assignment. I happily agreed. A few months later, my life circumstances shifted, but I wasn’t worried. This time, I knew—I knew that Heavenly Father was not surprised by this turn of events. He knows more about my life than I do. He knew what I needed at the time and was offering it to me. Trusting in His wisdom, I carried on.

What I find remarkable is that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ didn’t rebuke me for my lack of faith. They taught me. They used the first circumstance to prepare me for the second. Consider how Jesus taught ‘doubting’ Thomas.: "Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (KJV John 29:27, 29).

Some may presume a rebuke, but what I see is Jesus teaching with love. Jesus met Thomas where he was and gave him the witness that Thomas needed. With something as significant as testifying of the risen Lord, a sure witness was important.

Jesus promises to transform us to become more and more like Him if we will try to keep his commandments. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh…. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them" (KJV Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Jesus sacrificed his entire life to give us the power to change. His transforming power invites us to “put off” our natural selves and align our will with His. A bundled offer, forgiveness and change, frees us from our past and points us to a happier future, including God’s peace and light.

How blessed we are that our Savior teaches us with his patient, continuous encouragement and care. We get to choose what kind of power we want to expand in our lives–the Wind or the Son. For myself, I am beyond grateful to choose the Son. I hope you do, too.

Beth Wright is thankful for Spring, warmth and light. She loves Jesus Christ and is thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.