Dawan Coombs, an associate professor of English at BYU, gave the devotional address on July 1, speaking on the importance of finding direction amid times of “wobble.”
Coombs began her remarks by explaining how many BYU students are in the “Decade of Decision,” a time when they have to make many significant choices that all carry consequences for their future.
“These are wonderful, exciting decisions, but also ones filled with uncertainty that can lead to what my colleagues and I refer to in our research as ‘wobble,’” she said.
She then explained that many of us have felt physical wobbling while slipping on ice or crossing a suspension bridge, but a spiritual “wobble” is a bit different.
“The word wobble can also describe moments of spiritual, emotional, ideological, or religious hesitation, vacillation, uncertainty, or instability in our lives, when what once seemed unchangeable suddenly becomes unpredictable,” Coombs said.
She explained that many experience this instability in our life, especially when we make choices. But she further elaborated that “wobble moments can also be spaces of growth, stretching, and experience that make us stronger and better prepared to face future challenges.”
Coombs explained that questions about one’s identity and worth often can be the center of wobble. For her, questions such as “Am I smart enough to do well in this program?” or “Can I succeed as an academic and a member of the Church?” were some main factors in her wobbles.
“The identity questions at the heart of your wobbles may differ from mine, but whatever their focus, they lead us to interrogate who we are and what we value,” she explained.
She further explained that we often identify ourselves by any number of things, such as our jobs, relationships, race, gender, accomplishments or successes, but these things don’t paint a complete picture of who we are.
“There is only one constant identity that reveals your true worth: child of God,” she said.
Coombs then told a story of her brother Hayden who was driving his 5-year-old nephew Finn to school one day. When Finn asked Hayden who his favorite brother was, Hayden, in order to not choose between his brothers, said that Jesus was his favorite. Finn, in disbelief, asked, “Jesus Christ is my uncle?!?” Hayden explained to his young son that Jesus should be everyone’s favorite brother because of his Atonement.
Coombs further explained that having a knowledge of our identity can affect all of the decisions we make.
“It took time, but once I quit linking my value to ever-changing characteristics and variables and instead rooted it in my identity as a child of God, I discovered I could deal with failures or setbacks without questioning my worth,” she said. “Eternal worth isn’t negotiable or changing, no matter what successes or failures you experience. Your worth and the worth of those around you is inherent because of your divine identity.”
She further explained that dialogue with people we trust can help us to find guidance amidst wobble. She used examples such as Elisabeth and Mary in The New Testament, Alma and Amulek in The Book of Mormon, and early Saints as they built Nauvoo, to illustrate how dialogues with trusted others helped people work through wobble.
“When you find yourself wobbling, it’s imperative that you turn to those who love you and who care about your eternal well-being,” she said. “People with whom you can pose questions, who will raise genuine questions of their own, and who will help you work towards solutions grounded in eternal truths.”
In her own life, Coombs said the words she exchanged with trusted mentors, family and friends, helped provide solutions, ideas and fellowship.
“Even now, as wobbles arise, dialogues with friends, family, students, and colleagues offer fresh perspectives that inform my understandings,” she said.
She explained that church leaders, ministering brothers and sisters, and others can also provide encouragement and guidance. However, she illustrated that our most important dialogue should be with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
“Eventually I realized all I could control was where I focused, and instead of focusing on the struggle or on the blessings I wanted, my focus needed to be riveted on Christ,” she said. “I wanted Him to change my circumstances, but instead, He changed my heart, desires, strength, and understandings."
She then told a story of when she was able to virtually participate in the Boston Marathon, due to COVID-19 putting a pause on the traditional race. She had to run a 26.2 mile course during September, and decided to run through the middle of Zion National Park.
Starting early at 4:30 AM, she was worried when she realized how dark the canyon was at that time. While she had a headlamp, it seemed weak in comparison to the darkness.
Seeing her concern, her parents offered to drive behind her so she could run in the light from the truck’s headlights until the sun rose.
She soon recognized parallels between that run and our mortal journey.
“Knowing better than us, our loving Heavenly Father devised a way to illuminate our paths and provide enough light for us to move forward, a step at a time. Whether we realize it or not, amidst our wobbles He’s watching over us and providing what we need to make it to the end, at whatever pace we need to travel,” she said. “We just need to focus on His light and do our best to keep moving forward.”
She explained that Heavenly Father knew we would have wobbles of all sorts in our lives, and they would be a part of our paths, which is why He sent Christ to atone for us.
“The Savior’s Atonement is the crucial piece, not just of the plan, but of our plan,” she said. “When we feel lonely, afraid, or overwhelmed by our shortcomings and mistakes; when we feel unable to measure up to tasks placed upon our shoulders … in these instances and in every other, Christ is the only answer.”
She then recounted a story of when she went to the temple with questions in mind. When she looked at the name on the card, she said tears welled up in her eyes as she read the name: “Hope Moore.”
“For the rest of that day, I considered what it would mean for me to ‘hope more,’” she said. “I needed to hope more in the redeeming and enabling power of the Savior’s Atonement, hope more in the Savior’s ability to heal, hope more in the miracles He promised, hope more in His love, hope more in His power available to me through my covenants, hope more in His plan of salvation and exaltation for all of His children, and hope more in His plan for my life.”
She concluded by saying that Heavenly Father has been watchful and a guide in her life, as well as providing blessings along the way.
“I testify that this will be the case for you,” she said. “Your Heavenly Father will turn your moments of existential wobble into times of exponential growth as you rely on the Savior, and Him.”