Caught in the Snares

So first of all, that whole "frustrated" issue from the other day has still been bothering me. I'm starting to feel like "Hey maybe I'm not really needed on the field now that ALL these other sisters are up and getting ready to go too." I know that's not the right attitude, but I've been thinking "Oh someone else (who is probably more qualified) will do the work, so why should I try?" 

But I was studying on a few tangents of thought this morning, and eventually came across a scripture in Alma 12 that sort of struck home for me on the subject of my "frustrations". In verse 6 and later 11 it reads, "And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity... And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction..." So translation: Satan (darkness) very subtly creeps up into our lives, and if ignored or let to continue, that darkness will take over and have much greater power over us to lead us down. 

It makes me think of that analogy of Satan's power as a thread - wrapped around once, it's easy to break, but wrapped again and again, it gets harder and harder until we feel we have no more strength to break free of that darkness (but we are always given a way to break free, as hard as it may be!). Satan seems to slowly pull me down by negative thoughts about my potential and purpose in the world. But I know that my life has great potential and purpose. And I know that as I realize my adversaries (which tend to be my very own negative thoughts), and remember the great love of my Heavenly Father, I will have greater power to withstand the snares of those adversaries.