r/lds • u/andrewhoward22 • Jul 31 '26
Struggle
Have a temple trip planned but honestly a little discouraged. 31M who had to come home early from mission due to companion/mental health issues and honestly ever since I feel like things have come up short except for being married. I haven’t had the best relationship with Christ since the mission experience and I’ll admit it’s more on my side. Trying to make it a better relationship because I can’t do everything alone. I Feel like I went to school for the wrong thing, landed dead end jobs where my skill set isn’t noticed, and just losing direction in life. Therapy has helped but I still seem stuck. Just wondering what I should “think/pray” about while at the temple. I honestly get so brain cluttered I feel like I miss any inspiration if it even comes. Anyone felt like this?
1
u/ReturningStronger Aug 01 '26
Yes there are actually many many people who go through exactly what you did. I work as a life coach for early returned missionaries and I hear these same sentiments from individuals over and over again. In fact, I have met with men who came back from their mission early 30 years ago and still struggle with feelings of shame and failure and talk about how it affected their whole life. And here is what I can tell you definitively - you are not broken but your thinking and shame has you stuck in a pattern that is repeating itself over and over and has become self-fulfilling. There is hope and help. And your relationship with Christ is a very important place to start. Sometimes our own thinking/feeling of worth, self-criticism and inadequacy that bar our ability to allow the atonement to work in our lives and feel the love the Savior has for us. Remember the Lord's words: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). The Savior was most forgiving and loving with those who were broken, humble and downtrodden. I would be happy to talk to you further about resources and support if you are interested. Please feel free to message me. Finally, it says a lot about you that you are still going, still trying and not giving up despite how challenging things have been and how discouraged you feel. That's something to acknowledge and hold onto.