The Master Strategist
Agency, Revelation, and the Art of Becoming
When I was fifteen, my life changed. Amidst the upheaval of my parents’ divorce and a move to a new town, I found myself at a crossroads of belief. I realized I couldn’t survive on borrowed light; I had to know for myself. I spent that summer immersed in the Book of Mormon, praying for a witness. When that witness came, it wasn’t just a “thought”—it was a transformation. It changed my grades, my relationships, and my entire trajectory.
But as I’ve grown, I’ve learned that receiving revelation isn’t just about getting a “yes” or “no” from God. It’s about navigating a world where God’s perfect will often collides with the imperfect agency of others.
The Divine Environment vs. The Script
Many people view God’s omniscience as a rigid script—a pre-determined path we are forced to walk. But I’ve come to see it differently. God isn’t a puppet master; He is the ultimate Strategist. He has created a perfectly prepared environment that respects our autonomy while accounting for every possible choice we might make.
I have received revelation about things I believed would happen—prophetic glimpses into a potential future—only to see those outcomes blocked by the choices of others, including leaders I respected. It is a difficult thing to mourn when God’s will isn’t done because someone else exercised their agency poorly. I’ve even had moments where I felt God was “playing games” with me.
But I don’t feel that way anymore. I’ve realized that God sees what will happen and what He wants to happen. Even when the agency of others redirects the path, God remains in control. He prepares a way for us to fulfill our destiny—to marry, to provide for a family, and to succeed—regardless of the roadblocks others put in our way.
The Myth of "Too Hard"
In my work as a developer, I’ve seen how a breakthrough often comes when I step away from a bug and let the Spirit provide a moment of clarity. Learning is a skill, but the Spirit is the accelerator. The same is true for our characters.
We often hear that life is “too hard,” but I’ve learned that it is never too hard to become more like Him. It is never easy, but it is always possible. We are a culmination of our choices, but we are not damned by our mistakes. God’s mercy is unlimited, provided to make up for the bad choices that are so easy to fall into. It’s the hard choices—the ones where we stand for God’s will even when we stand alone—that actually shape us.
The Final Review
One day, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. In that moment, there will be no excuses. We won’t be able to say the trial was too difficult or the path was obscured.
God will show us the crucial moments of our growth. He will show us that we became exactly what we ultimately chose to become. We will see His wisdom in the trials He gave us, and we will agree with His judgment. We will see that while others had the agency to affect our circumstances, only we had the agency to determine our character.
Revelation isn’t just about predicting the future; it’s the guide that helps us choose who we are becoming in the present. I trust that He will provide the way, as long as I choose to follow the light He’s given me.