Your Choice: Paralysis or Progression

Dr. Debi Gilmore, LMFT

Smoke jumpers are brave men and women who fight forest fires by parachuting onto the ground above a fire and fighting it from the top down. Yes, others are placed below the fire to fight from below, but from years of experience firefighters have found that fighting from above is the most effective way to conquer the force of a fierce fire in a forest.  

Many years ago, during a particularly large forest fire, an elite team of smoke jumpers gathered for a meeting before taking off in the airplane. The dispatcher warned them and told them things were very dangerous in this fire. Typically, they are given explicit, clear, and detailed instructions, but this time the dispatcher could not give them such detailed instructions. 

The scope of this fire was so stunningly large, fierce, and dangerous that they could not determine all the details and had to explain that they would be given instructions along the way. The initial command was that they should contact him by radio once they parachuted onto the ridge above the fire. At that point, the dispatcher would give them instructions as to where they should go next.

While floating down from the plane, the smoke jumpers could see several possible paths they could take to begin their work. The leader of this heroic team took out his handheld radio and called the dispatcher. He was surprised to only hear static and no matter how many attempts he made; they could not connect with the dispatcher for further instructions. This situation was rare, so assuming the dispatcher was busy, they decided to wait 10 minutes and try again. Ten minutes later, the leader tuned into his handheld radio, called the dispatcher, but again there was no answer and only static on the other end. 

The smoke jumpers were trained to remain calm, recognize the challenge they were facing, and assess the situation rationally. They could see several paths down the mountain that would put them in a good position. However, they were also unsure about whether they should move on with a new plan rather than wait for orders. 

Over time, and with no ability to connect with the dispatcher, they began to question and assess for options. What if they started moving down one path, only to find they were going in the wrong direction? There was a very real possibility that they might be forced to go back up and try another path, which puts them in further danger due to the rapid spread of the wildfire. Consistent with their training to only follow orders from the dispatcher, they decided to just wait and hope further instructions would come soon. 

Fifteen minutes later, they tried the dispatcher again, but to no avail. They sat down, reclined on their backpacks and in a few minutes they opted to rest and took a nap. Even though they found the ability to rest, some were frustrated and some escalated in frustration to become angry. The discussion rose to “If the dispatcher would pay attention and focus on his job, then we would be able to get started.”

Typical of what humans do when they do not have all the information, the smoke jumpers jumped to a process of trying to make sense of the silence and lack of response from the dispatcher. They assumed the dispatcher was ignoring them, and assumed he was likely preoccupied with something unimportant. They decided to NOT MOVE because they didn’t have specific instructions.

Seven hours later, a weary fire chief from the group below emerged from the trees and found the smoke jumpers. He was shocked to see them standing in place, not moving, and seemingly casual about what to do next. He approached the leader and asked, “What are you doing lounging around? We really needed your help! The fire almost got away from us because we didn’t have your help to contain it. All this time you were just lounging on the ridge?”

The lead jumper explained their problem of not being able to connect to the dispatcher. He told the Fire Chief that the dispatcher had ignored them, never responding to their request for further instructions. They explained they were afraid they might take the wrong path and have to turn back.

The Chief asked for the leader to hand him their radio. He proceeded to walk 50 yards down one pathway toward the fire. Suddenly, the radio came to life and the dispatcher’s voice could be heard. The Chief then walked down another path just 50 yards and again the voice could be heard. At this point, the smoke jumpers were feeling the humiliation of not recognizing the very option that would have facilitated their success in proceeding with their mission. 

The Chief walked over to the group of smoke jumpers and said, “You were in a dead spot. All you had to do was START MOVING down one of the trails. The dispatcher could have easily given you COURSE CORRECTIONS and brought you to the right destination.”

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION

The process of recognizing and interpreting personal revelation is has strong parallels to this story of the smoke jumpers. We often do exactly what they did when we are seeking guidance from the Spirit. We might find ourselves confused about what direction to go, what decision to make, or which decision or direction is best for our situation at hand. At times we grow frustrated and maybe even feel paralyzed and unable to make a decision.  

In those moments of indecision and fear, we might decide to “sit down and wait” for our answer from the Lord. We wait, and wait, and wait, all the while questioning why the Lord doesn’t seem to respond, and assuming the Lord doesn’t care about our painful suffering or challenging situation. This interval, however long, can sometimes cause us to question our value in the Lord’s eyes, and in some cases can erode our faith if we allow the discouragement to silently simmer in our souls. 

Stand Strong Until Additional Knowledge Comes

Life is full of bumpy roads, curvy paths, and sometimes trips and falls as we struggle to navigate the challenges along the way. We are given general guidance and basic principles to help us remain safe and steady, however, when we hit an obstacle in the path our own fears and discomfort can get in the way of our own continued progress. Sometimes we want to stay right where we are until we are told what to do next. This tendency suggests that the Lord must give us step-by-step navigation, and that He doesn’t trust our own ability to assess, adjust and apply what we already know to continue onward. President Boyd K. Packer warns us about this over-dependency on needing to be told what to do next. 

“We are expected to use the light and knowledge we already possess to work out our lives. We should not need a revelation to instruct us to be up and about our duty, for we have been told to do that already in the scriptures; nor should we expect revelation to replace the spiritual or temporal intelligence which we have already received—only to extend it. We must go about our life in an ordinary, workaday way, following the routines and rules and regulations that govern life. Rules and regulations and commandments are valuable protection. If we need revealed instruction to alter our course, it will be waiting along the way as we arrive at the point of need.” 

(Boyd K. Packer, “The Quest for Spiritual Knowledge,” Liahona, Jan. 2007, 16; New Era, Jan. 2007, 4.)

We are prone to experience fear when we face the unknown, and when trials appear that seem insurmountable. Fear and doubt prevent us from the strength of faith and can blind us to the gifts and abilities we have already cultivated within ourselves. Again, in these moments when we haven’t yet received the clarity of what the Lord would have us do, we might become paralyzed and stuck in the face of our worst fears. Elder Holland reminds us to be strong and move forward with faith based on our present knowledge. 

“In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality… desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” April 2013)

Faith requires an abundance of courage, trust in our past promptings and personal revelation, and faith that Christ is aware of our pain and suffering. The darkness of the unknown can be troubling and sometimes even frustrating, but with practice, we begin to learn that as we step into the dark, the light will indeed come on and illuminate the next steps. Faith precedes the miracle, and faith also may precede the enlightenment of personal revelation. Elder Bednar offers reassurance about this journey into the dark with the following:

 “As we exercise faith in Christ and trust in His promises, we can walk into the dark with the absolute assurance that our pathway will be illuminated—at least far enough to take the next step, and then the next step and the next step. Individuals will be steadfast and immovable as they move into ever more troublesome days ahead as they follow the principle of not taking counsel from their fears. Prophets have repeatedly emphasized that faith in the Lord should replace fears.”  (David A. Bednar, “Fear Not, I am With Thee,” June 2019)

LONGSUFFERING

So often, in my work with clients who have been faced with prolonged agony and senseless loss of loved ones, I hear them say, “Where is God when I need Him? I feel abandoned, even though I have begged and pleaded with Him to show me how to heal. Does He really hear me?” They describe a painful loneliness and longing for a “sign” that their prayers are being heard and that answers are soon to come. It is heartbreaking to witness the anguish they share from the depths of their pain. At times, I too, wish for the answers and peace to come so they can experience merciful relief. 

However, something fascinating is also happening that I work to help them see. In the exploration and processing of the emotions that accompany their tragedies and challenges, so often I also uncover and new strength and sometimes unique special gifts. There is a refinement process that they might not otherwise recognize if we didn’t take the time to explore and expose the transformation. A question I often ask is, “I wonder what the Lord is doing with you? Is it possible that you are being prepared for something or someone, that requires this struggle and wrestle with strife and difficulty?” 

It is interesting to watch the expression on their face as they pause to ponder this somewhat surprising question. So often, a spark of awareness triggers in them, new thought and exploration, with possibilities and ideas that are triggered because of their pondering. New questions arise both in our conversation and in their prayers, such as “Lord, please unlock my understanding.  I pray that thou wilt help me know what thou would have me do TODAY to navigate my pain. With faith in the Atonement, please bless me with peace amid my journey.” Their focus comes back to the “here and now,” which helps them slow down and find the peace that is only found in the “now.” 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained what he learned from a personal trial when he said: 

“Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers to prayer and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God. I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might have taken me much longer to achieve. … I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I learned to walk with Him day by day.” (D. Todd Christopherson, “Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread,” January 9, 2011)

RECOGNIZING THINGS OF THE SPIRIT

Recognizing promptings and being able to decipher messages from the Spirit requires a process practice and trust in our own instincts and moral code. The language of the Spirit can be quite easy to learn and recognize if we understand the difference between messages from the Spirit vs. distractions and interference from the adversary. The language of the Spirit is clear, peaceful, and sometimes described as being as quiet as a whisper. The language of the adversary includes confusion, unrest, doubt, and lack of clarity. 

I suggest slowing down, listening to the prompting, and then assess how I am feeling and where I am feeling it in my body. If my heart is “warm,” and my body feels calm, I consider that a clue that something important is being conveyed to me by the Spirit. If I feel tight, confused, doubtful and fearful, I can be pretty sure it is not of the Spirit. 

However, there are times when the Spirit will pierce our souls with a solid warning of danger. One of the most important roles of the Holy Ghost is to keep us safe from harm, and these warnings from the Spirit can be clear, sharp, and concise when they come. The distinct impression to turn from our present direction, to say something we wouldn’t normally say, or to NOT say what we might want to say, can be powerful promptings of guidance and protection from danger or harm. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley helped us understand how to recognize promptings of the Spirit when he said: 

“How do we know the things of the Spirit? How do we know that it is from God? By the fruits of it. If it leads to growth and development, if it leads to faith and testimony, if it leads to a better way of doing things, if it leads to godliness, then it is of God. If it tears us down, if it brings us into darkness, if it confuses us and worries us, if it leads to faithlessness, then it is of the devil.” (CES Devotional for Young Adults • January 8, 2012, • Brigham Young University)

DO NOT TAKE COUNSEL FROM YOUR FEARS

In the process of learning the language of the Spirit and refining our ability to recognize and interpret the messages we receive, we must also be careful not to allow our emotions, or specifically our fears to inform our decisions or actions. Fear is a very normal and powerful emotion that can happen instantly or can evolve and grow over time. Fear is not bad, but it also is not rational. Fear is a result of our brain assessing the situation as dangerous, difficult, insurmountable, or threatening. Fear is a feeling that causes our heart to race, our breathing to become rapid and shallow, and might even increase our blood pressure. Our bodies go into distress, including our brain and problem solving and rational thinking tends to slip away. 

If we can recognize the initial fear as normal, but quickly work to remain calm and call upon our faith, we will retain our power and senses. If we are unable to do this, fear begins to control us, and we take counsel from our fear. Elder David A. Bednar provides a very grounded and calm understanding of the power of faith over fear in the following quote: 

“To not take counsel from our fears simply means that we do not permit fear and uncertainty to determine our course in life, to negatively affect our attitudes and behavior, to influence improperly our important decisions, or to divert or distract us from all in this world that is virtuous, lovely, or of good report.

“To not take counsel from our fears means that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overrules our fears and that we can press forward with a steadfastness in Him. To not take counsel from our fears means that we trust in God’s guidance, assurance, and timing in our lives. Direction, protection, and lasting joy come as individuals learn to not take counsel from their fears.” (David A. Bednar, Fear Not, I Am with Thee,” June 2019)

ILLUMINATION FROM THE SPIRIT IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF TRUTH

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland counseled: 

“With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly, don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence,” June 2000)

It is my hope that as you consider the situation the Smoke Jumpers were in, and their paralysis as they remained in place assuming more guidance was needed before they could act, ask yourself how this applies in your life. Does fear own you at times, and does fear drive and influence your decisions? Make a commitment to yourself today, to replace fear with faith, to learn about the language of the Spirit, and cultivate an ability to recognize and interpret promptings of personal revelation. This process will empower you to face any challenge in your life and will enable you to find merciful peace in the midst of the journey.