Have you not learned that strength comes to an ordinary soul

"Have you not learned that strength comes to an ordinary soul when given an extraordinary calling?" Thus speaks Russell M. Nelson, prophet and leader, whose words remind us of one of the oldest truths of humanity: that the hand of destiny does not always rest upon the mighty, but often upon the humble; that greatness is not born from privilege, but from purpose. His teaching burns with the eternal light of wisdom—that when life places a weight upon the shoulders of the seemingly weak, they discover within themselves a power they never knew they had.

The ancients knew this well. The Hebrew shepherd David was but a boy tending sheep when he was called to face the giant Goliath. He was no warrior, no seasoned fighter, yet in his extraordinary calling he drew upon a strength not of sword or shield but of faith. From that moment, his ordinary soul was lifted into the realm of kingship. Likewise, Moses stammered in speech, yet was chosen to speak before Pharaoh and lead a nation through the sea. Again and again, history shows that it is not the mighty who are first chosen, but the simple, whose hearts are prepared for greatness.

Consider also the life of Florence Nightingale, who came from comfort and privilege, yet heard the extraordinary call to serve the wounded in war. She was an ordinary soul in a society that did not esteem women in leadership. But her calling gave her courage to face filth, disease, and indifference. Through her, modern nursing was born, and the suffering of countless men was relieved. Her strength was not in physical might, but in her endurance, her compassion, her refusal to abandon her call.

Nelson’s words strike at the heart of how strength is revealed. We often believe we must be strong before we can attempt great things. But the truth is the reverse: it is the call itself that awakens strength. The mountain seems unscalable until one is summoned to climb; the burden seems unbearable until one is chosen to carry it. The call does not wait for the prepared—it prepares the one who accepts it. This is the mystery and miracle of the human spirit: that when touched by divine purpose, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Yet there is warning here as well. To refuse an extraordinary calling out of fear is to deny the strength waiting to be born within you. Many turn away, saying, "I am too weak, too small, too unworthy." But greatness is never found in comfort; it is found in stepping into the fire. Nelson reminds us that God does not choose the qualified—He qualifies the chosen. The one who trusts the call will discover reservoirs of strength unknown until the moment of trial.

The lesson is simple but profound: when life calls you to something higher, do not shrink back. Whether your calling is to lead a people, to raise a family, to heal the sick, or to speak truth in a world of lies—accept it. For in that acceptance, strength will come. The ordinary soul who obeys the call will find themselves transformed into more than they imagined possible.

Practically, this means embracing opportunities with courage rather than fear. When a door opens that seems too heavy, step through it. When responsibility weighs upon you, lift it with faith. When others doubt your capacity, let their doubts become the forge of your resolve. And always, remember Nelson’s truth: your strength is not measured before the calling, but revealed through it.

So pass this wisdom to the generations: “Strength comes to the ordinary when called to the extraordinary.” Tell your children when they feel small that within them lies greatness waiting to be awakened. Tell your friends who doubt themselves that the call will summon their hidden power. And whisper it to your own soul when burden feels too heavy: “This calling has come not because I am strong, but so that I may become strong.”