Shy No More

By Raina Nibarger

I have always been a naturally shy person around people I don’t know very well. While I am outgoing and loud around my friends and family, I clam up around others. The summer before my sophomore year, my two best friends moved out of the state.

School started, and it seemed as if Satan knew my weakness and set out to intensify it. I had a group to hang out with at school but didn’t feel included. I figured everyone noticed how often I was alone. I became insecure about my status at school.

One night before bed, I was reading in Ether 12. I love the scriptures, because I so often come across answers to my prayers. That night was no different. I read verse 27: “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” I had read this scripture mastery verse before but never had it been such a direct answer to my many prayers.

Tears filled my eyes. I knew that what I felt was my desire to come unto Christ. Suddenly I understood that the Lord had a plan for me. I also realized that the Lord wanted to help me make good friends. If I just had humility and faith, the Lord would help make my weakness a strength. As He said to Moroni in verse 37, “And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong.”

Lately I have seen how the Lord has kept His promise. I realized that it doesn’t matter where I stand on the high school social ladder, because Heavenly Father loves me for who I am. That is the most humbling thing about it all. He has billions of children, but I know that He loves us individually, for our own unique qualities. How grateful I am for the lesson I learned that night and for all the peace and serenity that comes with knowing God lives, He loves us individually, and He wants to help His children. I love Him with all my heart.