November 2-8
If you prefer to listen over reading an article, keep an eye on Autumn Dickson on YouTube or various podcast platforms. I post video and podcast versions of my blog posts on my Youtube channel and on the podcast platforms: Apple, Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
Looking for a different week in the Come Follow Me program? Check out this link to find posts by week: https://autumndickson.com/category/come-follow-me/
Let us tell the story of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel was 30 years old, far from the land of his fathers, and standing beside a man-made canal amongst other exiles. As he stood there, a magnificent vision opened up to him. He saw incredible things with dramatic symbolism. He received his call to be a prophet. Throughout the record of Ezekiel, he had five more visions (depending on whether you count the first three as separate). He received his call as prophet during an apostasy.
If things had been as they should be, Ezekiel’s life would have looked a little different. He would have been starting his temple service as a priest. Under the Law of Moses, priests officially started their ministry at age 30. He would have taught the law, made sacrifices, and worshiped with rituals if he had not been deported.
Ezekiel could not participate as he likely wanted to. He couldn’t go to the temple. He couldn’t perform his calling. He was almost completely separated from his religion other than the apostasized individuals around him. This is really difficult to imagine in a world where we have the entirety of our doctrine available on a mobile phone. It’s hard to understand what Ezekiel was facing when he was cut off.
Ezekiel was surrounded by people who still kept some of their religious practices intact, but there were some aspects of their faith that were impossible to perform such as temple rituals. These people also practiced their religion with mixed influences from Babylon, and they practiced it without their hearts. They didn’t truly love God or want to repent and seek a true relationship with him.
Though some of the Law of Moses remained, Ezekiel was largely surrounded by apostasy. And yet, despite the fact that he was surrounded by apostasy, Ezekiel had access to God. In fact, Ezekiel had tremendous access to God.
There are many principles we can take from this; let’s talk about one of them.
I wonder if Ezekiel would have had the same visions if the people had been righteous and remained in Jerusalem. If everyone had been doing what they were supposed to, would Ezekiel have started his temple ministry and been completely ordinary? Would he have had a record in the bible? Would he have received visions?
We have absolutely no idea. Perhaps Ezekiel would have been called as a prophet anyway or perhaps he would have simply served alongside Jeremiah. There is no way we could tell, but I bring it up to teach a specific principle.
I have learned that God often gives according to what is needed rather than giving us what we want. He doesn’t often speak up unless it’s necessary. Ezekiel didn’t have the temple or records. He didn’t have the internet or access to General Conference talks. He didn’t have a bishop or stake president or Church Handbook. Ezekiel had only God, and God needed to share some tremendous things with him.
Let’s look at this on a smaller scale since a grand majority of us won’t find ourselves called as a prophet or in an area-specific apostasy.
Our first move to the east coast was…chaotic. I had felt so strongly that we needed to go, but Conner didn’t. He had just experienced tremendous tragedy in his life. Things that were super important to him were taken away. He was totally adrift. Our move happened really fast, and we ended up staying in a hotel for three months. Every day, Conner would come home and desperately want to go back west. We were bleeding money living in the hotel, and there was absolutely no logical reason to stay where we were. It didn’t make any sense.
And yet, I woke up almost every morning with this rock-solid feeling that we were exactly where we needed to be. I still had plenty of fear about how things would play out, but I knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be. When I found myself in utter chaos in the hotel, I felt patience. When Conner came home depressed and worried, I felt the Lord’s strength helping me hold on.
Our second move to Virginia has been quite different. There were some miracles involved in getting this house, but I don’t have those rock-solid feelings all the time like I did the first time around. Sometimes I get small assurances when I’m really losing my mind, but I feel much more chaotic and “driven like chaff before the wind” than I did the first time. Which is honestly ironic since we were living in a hotel the first time.
Anyway, my feelings are not as strong this time around. But guess what? We also can’t leave this time around. We literally can’t. It’s not possible. I suppose we could sell the house and make the ridiculous trek back, but it doesn’t make logical sense. It would be an immense undertaking, and we would be returning to nothing. Conner’s work is here.
In other words, God doesn’t need to be carrying me like He did the first time. He doesn’t need to keep that rock solid feeling there because it doesn’t make sense to go back anyway. God often chooses to not engage or directly speak when He doesn’t have to. This preserves faith, and it gives us a chance to trust. It’s not that He’s gone. He’s just giving us plenty of space to grow and become wise and believe in His goodness and awareness.
I had a friend ask me to pray for her the other day. I told her to make sure that she’s praying too because God might be trying to say something. She responded by telling me that she has been trying to figure out what He wants for months. It occurred to me that He very likely wasn’t saying anything at all because He didn’t need to. She felt worried. Her situation was difficult, but He didn’t need to direct her to do anything specific yet.
Why does this matter?
For me, it brings great comfort. I don’t have to sit around in fear worried that I’m missing something. I don’t have to wonder why some people get dreams and visions. I don’t have to worry that God loves His other children more or that I’m not as righteous as them. I don’t have to be scared that He’s washed His hands of me.
No. God gives according to our needs. He is just as involved in my life as He was the first time I went to Virginia. He gave Ezekiel visions because Ezekiel had nothing. I have ridiculous numbers of visions to read about in the palm of my hand. I don’t need them, and He doesn’t give them for fun. I can be just as righteous. I can be just as close to Him. I can trust Him to speak to me and reach me when He needs to, and I can claim confidence as I move forward in life. I know He will intervene as necessary.
I testify that the Lord is involved in your life. I testify that He chooses to communicate with us wisely. I testify that if He wants to reach you, He can reach you. If you’re actively seeking His will, you don’t have to be afraid that you’re missing something. I testify that a lack of visions or dreams doesn’t mean He loves you less. He sent you here at this time, with access to everything. You have so much access to His words, and He will speak to you through the words He has already given as necessary. He loves you. He is involved.
