I am an anxious person. I look to the future often. Which isn't a bad thing.... But far too often we become so wrapped up in the future that we forget to live in the present. Especially during times of trial.
During my darkest hours what would keep me going is knowing that there were brighter days ahead, only to find out that my brighter days were, yes, brighter, but also much dimmer than I had hoped.
Here's the rather sad truth. Satan exists. He is poking and prodding during times of darkness and even more so in our times of light. There is no escaping him in this earthly life. His temptations will always be upon us. But here's the good news. We might not be able to silence him, but we can put ourselves in situations the quiet him.
In the scriptures there is a very familiar story of some travelers, and on their journey they are captured. So as any righteous soul would do in this situation they began to pray for their deliverance, and do you know what God told them? Hold on. Find women. Find men. Get married, have children, have grandchildren. Could you imagine? Here you are captured and your answer is basically, build a life, your gonna be here a while. But, oh, what a lesson!
During the week I read multiple conference talks, each one seemed to talk about having an eternal perspective. This reminded me that perhaps we are not to far off from the people long ago. The very purpose of this mortal life is to be tried and tested, our very purpose to be on this earth is merely to grow!! Perhaps our "captured" years are these very years on this mortal earth. Often we are caught in times of trial and hardship. Often times I find myself looking towards my better days. I tell myself, hold on, suffer through these days and soon you will be where you wanna be. What a waste!! Enjoy the day your in. Wake up and find good in the life you have been given today! Be where you wanna be today!
President Monson quotes one of his favorite musicals in his talk Finding Joy in the Journey, he quotes, "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you've collected a lot empty yesterday."
How profound!
When you rolled out of bed today, God granted you a special gift, one more day of life. Whatever comes your way today, enjoy that gift. Thank Him for it! Cherish it. Cash it in wisely. You never know when it might be your last.
When we find joy in the journey, every day we will reach our destination.
I understand someday's its hard to find joy. Someday's its nearly impossible to find anything happy. I have experienced those days where you feel as though it would be best to climb back in bed and hide under the covers. But find your faith, even if it is as small as a mustard seed, for if you have even just a tiny bit of faith God has promised He will bring you an "expected end." How comforting to know that even our longest, hardest trials have a light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever your going through, it WILL NOT last forever.
Be strong. Be faithful. Hold on. God is on your side!
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