Learning to Let Go and Trust

I've been thinking a lot about Joseph Smith’s words from Liberty Jail:

"Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." —D&C 123:17

One word stood out to me—cheerfully.

How often do I move through my to-do list with a heart that feels heavy instead of light? How often do I convince myself that everything must be done, that it all matters equally? But Joseph’s words hold wisdom—he doesn’t say to do everything. He says to do what lies in our power. And then? Stand still.

That part gets me. The standing still. The trusting that what I have given is enough. That what I have offered is sufficient in His eyes.

It reminds me of a time when I was trying to do it all—saying yes to every request, stretching myself thin, running faster than I had strength. I kept thinking, If I just push a little harder, be a little better, maybe I’ll finally feel like I’m doing enough. But instead, I felt exhausted. Empty. And worst of all? Distant from God.

Then, I heard a story from Elder Renlund, and his wife Ruth. She had every reason to feel overwhelmed—she just started law school, her husband was deep in medical training, they had a young daughter, and she had her own health struggles. But instead of trying to do it all, she simplified. She made a list—what mattered most and what could wait. She let go of the things that didn’t serve her and refused to feel guilty about it. And because of that, she thrived.

I want that kind of courage. The kind that says, I will do what I can, and I will not carry what I was never meant to carry. I want to live with more intention, more trust, more lightness. I want to believe that I don’t have to run faster than I have strength.

And maybe, just maybe, standing still is the holiest thing I can do.

Because it’s in that stillness that I just might see His arm revealed.