A Challenge

As I talked to a friend the other day, he asked me when the last time was that I had written something positive and happy in my journal.  After some investigation, I realized it had been a while since I had written anything that was "happy". . . let me just say that my journal is kind of a place to puke out the feelings I'm having when I'm going through a rough time.  So he challenged me to write something positive, even though this isn't my journal, I do want to express feelings. 

To start off I have to start by telling all my friends and family how truly awesome I think they are.  I have been so blessed in my life with awesome, awesome people.  I truly can say that I would not be where I am, going on a mission, or have accomplished the things that I have without the people who are in my life -  who are always teaching me and advising me to move in the right direction.

As I sat in Church the other day, my mind kept wandering back to the people who have been in my life very recently who have changed so many things for me.  My Father in Heaven loves me a lot, because he has surrounded me with angels who lift and bear me up.

We all have struggles.  I was reading this passage of scripture the other day, and it hit me (why I hadn't thought much of it before is a wonder to me as well) that in verse 25 it says the rain will come, floods will come, winds will blow, and it will beat upon our house (us) - BUT it fell not!


3 Nephi 14: 24-27

 24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a ^arock—

 25 And the ^arain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it ^bfell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a ^afoolish man, who built his house upon the ^bsand—

 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

We shall have struggles.  The Lord never said we wouldn't.  He never said it would be easy, that He would take our problems away.  A while ago I went to my grandparents and she shared these scriptures with me: 

Alma 5:14-15

 14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye ^aspiritually been ^bborn of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty ^cchange in your hearts?

 15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who ^acreated you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption ^braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be ^cjudged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

 16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye ^ablessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? 

Do we have faith sufficient to believe in ourselves, as well as our Savior?  Struggles and hard times will come, but we don't have to walk alone.  Ever.

So, I guess what my point is, is that we need to stop a little more often and realize the blessings we have (count your blessings!) and know that it isn't going to be easy.  I'm sure the Savior didn't have it easy when He knelt in Gethsemene or fasted for 40 days and nights, or when He hung on the cross.  Believe in yourself.  Have faith. Don't forget who you really are!