"...When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain....To ask, Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this, now? What have I done to cause this? will lead you into blind alleys.... Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?...Our Father in Heaven has invited you to express your needs, hopes, and desires unto Him. That should not be done in a spirit of negotiation, but rather as a willingness to obey His will no matter what direction that takes. His invitation, “Ask, and ye shall receive” (3 Ne. 27:29) does not assure that you will get what you want. It does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by a Father that loves you perfectly, who wants your eternal happiness even more than do you.
I testify that when the Lord closes one important door in your life, He shows His continuing love and compassion by opening many other compensating doors through your exercise of faith. He will place in your path packets of spiritual sunlight to brighten your way. They often come after the trial has been the greatest, as evidence of the compassion and love of an all-knowing Father. They point the way to greater happiness, more understanding, and strengthen your determination to accept and be obedient to His will....Please learn that as you wrestle with a challenge and feel sadness because of it, you can simultaneously have peace and rejoicing. Yes, pain, disappointment, frustration, and anguish can be temporary scenes played out on the stage of life. Behind them there can be a background of peace and the positive assurance that a loving Father will keep His promises. You can qualify for those promises by a determination to accept His will, by understanding the plan of happiness, by receiving all of the ordinances, and by keeping the covenants made to assure their fulfillment." (To read the full article, click here)
I don't really know what more I can say to emphasize how much it has helped me to read this talk. After some hard things it seems like we've been going through lately, I think it's something I definitely needed to hear and be reminded of right now. Since I'm sure I could benefit from hearing it every day, I decided to post it so I can read it often and hopefully have that type of attitude about my trials. I also want to say that I am so thankful that if there's anyone I have to go through trials with, I've been able to go through mine with Mike. I'm grateful he's always willing to work with me and be so understanding. I can't imagine a better person to have to go through hard times with!
On a lighter note, I just wanted to say that I am IN LOVE with Crystal Light on the Go!! I've never really been a big person for sodas or certain drinks but I love this stuff!! It's so nice and convenient and it only has 5 calories and it's good!! I just can't get over how much of a fan I am! I know it has aspartame in it and I've heard there are some flavors or brands without it so I'm going to look for those next time...until then, I am loving this stuff!!
