The One Scripture That Broke My Cycle of Guilt
Spiritual Echoes Taught Me About God’s Grace
Years ago, my wife (Amalia) heard the term “spiritual echoes” while having a conversation with close friends. Spiritual echoes occur when a message or theme is repeated in a short period without being sought out. Since Amalia learned this term, we’ve adopted it into our daily lives and taught our children that spiritual echoes are subtle ways God speaks to us when He wants us to pay attention.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard a scripture repeatedly echoed in various sources—a podcast, a conference talk, and even casual conversations. That scripture was Doctrine & Covenants, section 46, verse 9.
“For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do.” (D&C 46:9)
Clearly, God needed me to learn something from it…
The Weight of Perfection
As a perfectionist, I’ve often fixated on the phrase “keeping all the commandments.” Knowing that *“no unclean thing can dwell with God”* weighed heavily on me, especially during moments of personal failure.
Each time I fell short, shame, guilt, and a sense of inadequacy consumed me. I convinced myself that I “knew” I was unworthy of Heaven or even divine help.
To make myself feel worthy, I would go through the motions—praying, repenting, and confessing to the “right” people—only to lie awake, haunted by the thought that I wasn’t living up to my covenants. This cycle of self-condemnation often led to further “failings,” spiraling into despair and often into a relapse.
“Seeketh So to Do” A Powerful New Perspective
Then, I read the scripture again, and a new phrase stood out: “and him that seeketh so to do.”
This divine reminder that perfection isn’t required for God’s grace to reach us hit me like a ton of bricks.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s message, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually,” reinforced this truth: God values our sincere efforts and intentions, even if we fall short.
This shift in understanding brought hope. It reminded me that seeking His will—day by day, moment by moment—is what God truly asks of us.
As long as our efforts are genuine, we are within the circle of His blessings.
Grace in Every Step
Elder Ulisses Soares beautifully explained that Christ supports us before, during, and after repentance. Adding to that, Elder Chi Hong Wong said, “God knows the details of the details of our lives.”
He knows our struggles, imperfections, and sincere desires. He sent His Son to provide a way for us to grow and return to Him because he understood all of that.
As we seek Him through repentance and striving to follow His commandments, He blesses us abundantly. God’s grace is not a backup plan—it’s an essential part of our journey, allowing us to practice and improve daily.
The best part of His grace is that it’s always there!
Science Backs Up Effort
Interestingly, when we seek to do His will, we change at a neurological level. When we strive to improve daily, our brains and bodies change. Neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf explains this in her book Cleaning up Your Mess. She explains that by writing openly about our thoughts, pondering deeply, and taking consistent steps toward change, we create new neural pathways that align with our values and beliefs.
Her process of changing our habits, behaviors, and brains through journaling.
This process becomes critical when battling addiction or bad habits. Every action either strengthens harmful patterns or builds healthier ones. With God’s help, we can use this same structure to rewire our brains toward positive, value-driven behaviors.
Practical Steps for Growth
Set Daily Intentions: Dedicate time to ponder deeply and act on spiritual impressions.
Journal With a Purpose: Reflect openly on your challenges and goals to inspire meaningful change.
Include God: Seek His guidance in your efforts, trusting in His grace to sustain you.
Trust the Process: Change doesn’t happen all at once. Giving yourself the same grace God gives you can help you when you experience setbacks.
Hope for All Who Seek
The message of D&C 46:9 is simple and beautiful: Our intentions matter. As we sincerely strive to keep God’s commandments, even imperfectly, He blesses us.
Whether your struggle is addiction, guilt, or feelings of inadequacy, know this: God’s plan is perfect, and His grace is sufficient.
Remember:
Every small effort counts.
God’s love for you is constant, no matter your struggles.
There is hope for you and me to grow, heal, and become like Him.
A Final Thought
Dr. Brad Wilcox once said, “We are learning heaven. We are preparing for it. We are practicing for it.” Let’s keep practicing, knowing God’s love and grace will carry us through.
What part of this message resonates with you? We’d love to hear from you!
