Boy, it’s crazy what can change in a year! I can honestly say that this school year has been exponentially better than last year. I was reading some of my journal entries from last year around this time and I’ve realized how crazy and stressful my life was. Not that there was anything too crazy going on, but I just worried so much about the littlest things. As I read through those journals, I began to think about how much better my life would have been if my circumstances and the way I made decisions were different. It’s like when you look at pictures from when you were a kid and you cringe a little because your clothes never matched and your hair was always a mess(an ongoing struggle for me).
But at the same time I feel like it’s those times where you wish you could have changed your circumstances, that you really learn to grow. One scripture that I’ve grown to love is 1 Corinthians 7:20-24. It says, “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God” I know it is a little long, but it has become one of my favorites over the past year or so. It helps me remember that Heavenly Father only lets us give us trials that He knows we can learn and grow from and that He wants us to make the most of our lives despite our trials. Whenever I read this scripture, the phrase, “bloom where you’re planted” always comes to mind. As a little kid, my favorite flower were the yellow dandelions that seemed to pop up everywhere and anywhere. My mom would always laugh and tell me that they were just weeds. But I didn’t just like them because I thought they were pretty, no I liked them because they seemed to spring up everywhere. No matter where, they would even grow from the cracks in the sidewalk. I think that scripture is kind of saying the same thing applies to us. It’s like Heavenly Father puts us in these crazy, sometimes a little rough situations because He wants us to learn and grow because of it. I used to think that Heavenly Father would put us in tough situations because we weren’t doing the right thing. That is never the case. Of course there are consequences when we sin, but Heavenly Father doesn’t give us more trials because we sin. When I was little, I was taught by my parents and primary teachers that we can pray whenever we want to and that Heavenly Father will listen. I am so grateful for those who have helped me make prayer such a huge part of my life. I know it can be hard to focus on the gospel amidst trials, but I also know that it is the best way to get answers from Heavenly Father. I don’t think I fully understood the power prayer can have until about two years ago. There was a girl from my school that started coming to church with one of the girls in my ward. I can still remember so clearly how strongly I felt the spirit when she was being taught how to pray. At first I was shocked because I realized that this girl didn’t know how to pray up until that point. It was a really spiritual experience and it taught me to be grateful for the ability to be able to talk to my Heavenly Father whenever I need to. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that we are given trials that He knows we can learn from. I also know that sometimes it can be hard to stay close to Heavenly Father when you’re busy worrying about everything that may seem to be going wrong in your life right now. I urge you to pray about anything even if you think it is not that big of a deal. Remember if something seems like a big deal to you, Heavenly Father cares about everything that you care about.
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I think the best part of life is experiencing hard things and then a little ways down the road, you look back on them. And it’s in those moments, you realize why Heavenly Father gave you that trial. Then when you really think about it, it makes sense why you needed to experience it. Maybe later, you’ll realize that you can help others because of it. Or maybe it was because in the future, having that knowledge of what it feels like to go through something like that can be used to encourage others. It could also help you have confidence that if you could do that, this is going to be breeze.
There have been so many times where I think that there is no way I would be able to do something. I can get really overwhelmed and I start to doubt myself. The best thing I have found most helpful in these situations is to take a step back and remind yourself that everything is going to be okay. Because there is nothing that Heavenly Father will give you that you can’t handle. We are never left alone to deal with our trials, we have our Savior who can succor us. Adversity can come from a number of things. You see, different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, people who are stricken with illness may simply need to be patient and faithful. People who suffer because of others’ words or actions should work toward forgiving those who have offended them. If a person’s trials come because of disobedience, he or she should correct the behavior and humbly seek forgiveness. When you repent, the sin committed is no longer stopping you from becoming more like Christ. I think when we are experiencing something tough, we need to remember that it is part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us. We may not see it at the time, but when Heavenly Father gives us trials, it is because He loves us and wants us to grow stronger. Its also important to remember that He has a bigger plan for us than we have for ourselves. And while His plan isn’t always the same as ours, it is always better. When I was a freshman, I this picture of what I wanted my life to be like and looking back at what I thought I wanted, I was so off. Even now, I don’t really know exactly what I want to be. But I do know that if I trust in my Heavenly Father, He’ll help me know what I am supposed to do. If you are feeling uncertain as to whether you can endure your trials, just know that Heavenly Father will always prepare a way for you to accomplish whatever is put in your way. Remember that you are never alone. Try to recognize and be grateful for the people that Heavenly Father puts in your life to teach you things that you need to know. |
My name is Ellie. I am a sophomore at BYU Idaho. I am excited to live life and to share a small piece of it with you!
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