Facing Trials

When we lose someone we love, it challenges our faith to its very limits. There are trials and testing to endure--for us, left on earth. But I have learned so much, over the past year, that we are not left alone to bear our sorrows.  Allowing the Savior of the world to take our burdens of unimaginable sorrow--helps heal our broken hearts, gives us strength to endure the darkest hours, and gives us hope in the dawn of a brighter day.

As I was reading the Ensign, I ran across this beautiful excerpt taken from President Thomas S. Monson’s talk, (I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee, Oct. 2013 General Conference) that helped remind me of His love for us and that trials, even heartbreaking sorrows, have a purpose in our lives.

Prophetic Promise: Facing Trials

“Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before. 

“This should be our purpose—to preserve and endure, yes, but also to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and sorrow. Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress toward our goal of eternal life.”

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng&query=I+will+not+fail+thee,+nor+forsake+thee,+Thomas+S.+Monson,

http://www.lds.org/youth/video/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng 

“What I the lord have spoken, I have spoken; …whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” D&C 1:38

These prophetic words of counsel brought comfort to my soul today!

Written by Carol, Shaniel’s mother