"The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He has shown the way to gain strength during our struggles. With His assistance, we have the ability to succeed."
--L. Lionel KendrickI know this statement to be true in my own struggles in this life.
I'm so filled with gratitude today. I truly have gained strength through all the obstacles I've overcome in my lifetime. Though they were hard and long and I'm still going through many of them. I am comforted daily by the Lord. I have learned a great deal about my own spirit and about my strengths and weaknesses too. It's been a learning time. The past fifteen years have brought our family so close to one another that if I could go back through time--I can honestly say, I would do it all over again.
One of the byproducts of overcoming obstacles, is gaining an inner ability to sift out the important from the unimportant. The ability to decipher between wants and needs. The ability to be able to tell the good from the bad is gained. "It's all good" as my sister in law tends to say. It really is!
Did you know that a baby who is stressed during pregnancy and born unexpectedly has a higher chance of survival than an infant who has no stress and is born prematurely? The infant who is under stress develops their lungs early and is able to survive outside the womb more readily. The other does not and is usually hospitalized much longer. I learned this fact during two complicated pregnancies.
Life is the same way. With each trial and obstacle we overcome, we gain strength-- if we will allow ourselves to do so. It's with our thinking and our prayers that we can overcome even the insurmountable tribulations of life. We are never alone in our struggles. Christ, atoned for our sins, our suffering and our pain.
Jesus understood his mission. So, maybe the challenge is to try to have the same kind of faith He had during the hard times? The kind of faith that can turn questioning and anger into understanding the power, blessings and hope that can come from Him. He is the source of it all. That kind of faith brings knowledge and assurances that we can experience that is the part of the gospel plan and things that appear to be wrong in our lives will eventually be made right again.
So hold onto peace and understanding that will allow you to endure life's trails with dignity and grace. Having clarity of purpose can be such a sweet reward. Faith can help us to see the good in our lives, even when when the path seems lined with broken glass, nails and shattered dreams.
When Jesus and His disciples passed a man who was blind since his birth, His disciples asked, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"
“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2–3).
I know that Heavenly Father does not cause heartbreak and tragedies to occur in our lives. "Works of God" are shown in the healing of the blind man. Those same works of God are also in the way we face our own personal trials in life.
Without the sorrow we would not appreciate the good in life. We need to remember what we have learned during the the pain and suffering. I have found peace as I've helped others through similar circumstances. I can now give hope and comfort to others relaying what I have learned. I can show gratitude for the source of my joy now. Peace is something I feel daily, though I know my trials are far from over--miracles happen every day in my life.
Recently I prayed for a way to pay my medical bills. The answer came in the form of a phone call from from a distant land. May God bless this individual for their generosity and compassion.
Another window of hope was opened wide for our family. I'm in awe of God's perfect timing. May we all listen to the promptings of the spirit so that we can do as Heavenly Father would want us to. If we can each reach out to just one of His children, I know it will bless so many lives. I know I will try my best to do so...Will you?
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John 9:2–3 KJV Bible
