The Answer in a Dream

by Kasey Tross

image from lds.org

Can I just say that I love, love, LOVE how God answers prayers sometimes?

See, lately I’ve been praying quite a bit about finding the time for scripture study. I know, I know- it’s not about finding the time, it’s about making the time. Yes, but the problem is that when you can hardly hear yourself think during most of the day because you have a toddler/preschooler/8-year-old/9-year-old needing your attention RIGHTNOW, you can desire to make the time all you want- doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

I was already going to bed an hour earlier and waking up a half an hour earlier (trying to get more sleep too) so that I could have a few minutes of quiet time to say my prayers in the mornings. (The “quiet” time still only happens when I turn off the baby monitor as soon as I get up because when I started to wake up 30 minutes earlier the toddler suddenly decided she should wake up 10 minutes earlier than that and I just can’t realistically get to bed any earlier). For me, I want my scripture study to have my whole attention. It’s not like facebook and blogging and other stuff I can do in snippets of time here and there while also cooking, helping with homework and kissing owies, and it’s not something I can do when I’m tired at night.

I just couldn’t figure out WHEN.

So, in my prayers I asked Heavenly Father to help me out. I told Him that somehow, some way, in this crazy life of mine I needed Him to help me find the time, because I WANTED to do it. I really, really did, and I felt like I was missing something big in my life without it.

So on Wednesday night I had a dream. In my dream I was in college and I suddenly realized I hadn’t been attending a class I was enrolled in. It was 3/4 of the way through the semester, but I knew I still had to try anyway. What time was the class? On Thursdays at 1:30pm.

(There were a lot more really amazing parts to the dream, but I won’t go into that here. But it was really cool how specific and detailed the messages were for me.)

After I woke up (on a Thursday morning) and I realized that the dream felt like much more than a dream, through some analysis I began to deduce that it had to do with my scripture study conundrum. And then I thought, “1:30...1:30...huh. That’s when I put my toddler down for her nap.” And then...”Wait a minute. When I put her down for her nap, I can go straight into my bedroom afterward (since I’m already upstairs) and take a few minutes to read my scriptures. My preschooler is usually already settled in the playroom downstairs doing something for her quiet time, so it’s perfect. 1:30!!” I had the place, I had the time, I had the peace and quiet I needed.

I started my scripture study that day, and I’ve done it everyday since, because if we are home at nap time (and we are about 99% of the time) then I put her down for her nap and it’s as simple as that. God gave me the perfect solution, one that had never crossed my mind. And he didn’t say 1:00 or 2:00- either one of those might have confused me. No, he gave me the exact time that I start thinking about putting her down for her nap each day. Now my scripture study is no longer something that I struggle to fit in- it is anchored to another routine part of my life and it has become a welcome break from my hectic daily grind. In short, it is exactly what I need, when I need it.

I share this with you because this experience reminded me that where there is a will and there is GOD, there is always a way. President Ezra Taft Benson said,

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their soals, and pour out peace.”

When we come to the Lord with our sincere righteous desires, and when we do our best to do what He has asked of us, then He will make up the difference. When we partner with Him, His strengths become our strengths. All we have to bring is our willing hearts, and He will take care of the rest. He will not only answer your prayers, but He will do it in a way that you will understand because He wants you to succeed. All you have to do is act, “with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ.” (Moroni 10:4) He did it for me, and He can (and will) do it for you.

What will you accomplish today with the Lord on your side?