Journey of Faith: Coby Wells’ Transformative Mission Experience

Journey of Faith: Coby Wells’ Transformative Mission Experience

Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of the "Can You Feel So Now?" podcast, host Justin Barton delves into the experiences of Coby Wells, a young man recently returned from his mission in the Uruguay, Montevideo mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their conversation spans years of personal growth, spiritual awakening, and the development of life philosophy anchored in faith and trust in God. This session offers a profound look at how Coby's journey reshaped his outlook on life, trials, and service.

A Ten-Year Friendship

The discussion begins with Justin recounting how his decade-long acquaintance with Coby makes their conversation both personal and intriguing. Coby introduces himself, outlining his background and interests, including his strong affinity for volleyball and sports.

Faith and Scripture

The podcast soon gravitates toward spiritual themes, as Coby reflects on scriptures that were impactful during his mission. He cites Helaman 5:12 and Galatians 2:20 as anchors during trying times. His mission experience was not just about spreading the gospel but also about internalizing it, especially understanding what it means to be 'crucified with Christ' and how that helps in navigating life's adversities.

Trials and Trust

Coby's story is one punctuated by trials, such as enduring a disease called Sarna during his mission. This trial taught him to place complete trust in God, moving away from a mindset where he dictated to God what should happen. Through surrendering to divine will, circumstances began to change, exemplified by meeting someone who provided the cure to his ailment soon after he decided to trust God thoroughly.

Mission Lessons and Post-Mission Perspective

Coby shares the lesson of humility, noting the shift in his approach to trials pre- and post-mission. He was once dismissive, preferring to ignore problems, but has since adopted a stance of trust and acceptance of God's guidance. His mission presidents encouraged personal revelation, a principle he brings back into his everyday life.

Charity and Love

Charity is one Christ-like attribute Coby focused on developing. He narrates an experience in Uruguay that challenged his preconceptions and prejudice towards individuals practicing different beliefs, emphasizing how charity helped him connect with them deeply.

Personal Growth and Future Goals

Coby discusses his aspirations to develop applications that can aid in daily planning and addiction recovery, showing how his mission experiences with people grappling with addiction motivated him to find ways to contribute positively post-mission.

Reflections on Change and Sustaining Faith

Justin guides the conversation towards reflection on change—both past and anticipated. He prompts Coby to consider how his transformed vision and heart can be shared through his testimony, understood as singing the ‘Song of Redeeming Love’. Each mission experience has added layers to Coby's understanding of his faith and self, an introspection he plans to carry forward.

Conclusion

The dialogue closes with Coby's reflections on returning home and applying the lessons learned during his mission to future challenges. Trust in divine guidance remains a central theme, reinforced by repeated experiences where trusting God's plan resulted in unexpectedly positive outcomes.

Coby Wells' journey is a testament to the power of faith, even when faced with unforeseen trials or challenges. His story inspires listeners to embrace humility, maintain charity, pursue continuous personal revelation, and most importantly, remember that trusting in God’s wisdom yields profound peace and joy.

Testimony in Spanish

In a fitting finale, Coby offers his testimony in Spanish, a beautiful closure that ties together the narrative of growth and faith across cultural and linguistic boundaries.