I was replaced

“I really should text her to check on her and offer to bring her dinner.”

The thought came into my mind.

Again.

“Yes, yes, I definitely need to. Let me do that later.”

Is what I said back to my mind.

Again.

A few weeks later, I was chatting with a friend.

She started to tell me about the coolest experience she had recently—

She had reached out to a mutual acquaintance (the person for whom I kept ignoring the prompting), and had served her.

She told me how unexpectedly emotional it ended up being.

How the two of them had really bonded and raw feelings had been shared.

She mentioned that she really felt like she was literally being an answer to this sister’s prayers.

And the pit in my stomach grew and grew as she talked.

I had missed out.

I had delayed the prompting for so long that the Lord had found someone else to replace me in the service.

The Lord warned David Patten, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve:

“Inasmuch as there are those among you who deny my name, others shall be planted in their stead”. D&C 114:2

God has a great work to do. He has countless people to bless and serve and minister to…

And we are often His hands to get the work done.

So if we aren’t going to be the answer, then He will find someone else with a willing heart.

But I have to finish my story from earlier.

Because after the pity party that I threw myself while my friend was telling me what she assumed was an uplifting story, I had another thought:

“You can still serve her.”

I realized she still needed help. She still needed friendship.

I may have missed a big opportunity, and I felt the guilt from ignoring that prompting.

But I still had a chance to repent and serve.

Repentance is real.

If we aren’t doing what we should, God will find others to serve instead.

But our Savior’s atoning sacrifice makes it possible to try again the next time, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black