September 09' Visiting Teaching Message

I am going to visit two of my sisters today, and in reading the visiting teaching message this month, one of the quotes for this month is something that I have emphasized in my own life and sharing with others in general and on my On Wings of Faith group. Let me share this with you and we'll dive more into the importance of it in general & in my own life as well.

"The reason we pray, study the scriptures, have good friends, and live the gospel through obedience to the commandments is so that when - not if, but when --the trials come, we are ready." --Elder Robert D. Hales

We have been given some simple measures from the example of Jesus, and commandments from God that if we do these simple measures in our lives on a regular basis it will go a long way in our trialing times - and in turn our joyous times are even more joyous.. If we have not done these simple things on a regular basis, then our trialing times simply are harder to get through. The weight of our trials seem too hard to bare.

I know in my own life that when I have not been consistent with my personal prayer, scripture study, and other aspects that make life run more smoothly that life tends to be more bumpy.

If you know me, you will know that I have been through a lot of trials in my life, some that were through mistakes I have made or trials that simply were placed in my life - any way the trials came into your life gives the opportunity for growth. I know that when we choose to lean on God, doing our part, we will get through even a little bit easier, have more sense of peace, comfort, and in the end more joy.

Recently, I friend shared this with me during some difficult times in my life:

Remember that the fiery darts that Satan throws at us puts holes in our buckets, which makes us have to work to keep them filled. It is almost impossible for us to keep our buckets full all by ourselves, that is why Heavenly Father provides friends and loved ones to help in that bucket filling chore. As one fills another bucket, your bucket is filled in return.

Also remember, that the most important is no matter how hard life seems at times, remember that God will never give us anything that we can't handle. Never, never give up and don't let Satan win the battle he is waging against you. Know that endurance is the key to salvation. And that which does not kill us, only makes us stronger. Like the story of the man that was commanded by the Lord to push against a rock, and the man obeyed and pushed, and pushed, but he never moved the rock one inch. He became discouraged, and when the Lord came bac, he told the Lord, I pushed against the rock, but I failed because I was not able to move it. Then the Lord said, I only asked you to push against the rock, not to move it, and by pushing against the rock it has made you strong. So, God is there to comfort us when we think we have failed, but in reality we have succeeded! So, remember, keep pushing against every rock and you will become stronger by every passing day!

I have found in my own life that if the load of my trials are feeling so heavy that I am feeling unable to bare them, I ask myself "Am I doing my part?" If I am not, which we all have our moments that we fall back, then the good news is, is that we can move forward again. He is waiting for each and every one of us. He knows each of us. He loves each of us. And He knows what is best for us. It truly is in God's infinite wisdom that he places us with trials - it is out of love that he does this, to again, give us the opportunity to grow. We can choose that - that is our free agency to choose the better road. I do have a strong testimony of this, and while I am not perfect, and I continue to fall over and over again as others do - I learn, I grow spiritually, mentally, and physically. I am so grateful for these opportunities.