I am sharing this post on behalf of mormon.org. All opinions are my own.
The struggle is real. I know you have heard the phrase before, it is used all the time, mostly as a joke (or to be silly). But friends, all joking aside, the struggle is real. Life is hard. I know we didn’t come here to walk through a field of daisies and sing songs all day, we came here to be tested, but sometimes it just feels like too much. About two years ago my oldest sister lost her battle with cancer. She was a stage 4 when they found it, and by then there wasn’t much they could do. When she found out she was sick, she moved in with me so I could help care for her. Those four months, although hard, were a blessing for my family. My kids who hadn’t really known her very good, got to know her and love her the way I did/do. Even my baby who was only 4 at the time of my sisters passing, still talks about her now. I wouldn’t change any of that even though it was one of the hardest things I have ever been through.
In those hours after she was gone, I spent a lot of time on my knees praying. Not asking “why”…it was irrelevant at that point. No amount of answers to that would change the fact that she was gone. I simply wanted to feel comfort. For my family to feel comfort. I needed that peace that comes with understanding and knowing that I am not alone. In those hours of prayer, I realized that sometimes life is too much to handle. The burdens are great. But Jesus Christ is there, holding me, wiping my tears and comforting me. Helping me through it all. While I don’t always understand the reason and I don’t always see the bigger picture, I know he is there and that gives me hope.
We are here on this earth to be tested, to experience trials and to choose for ourselves the path we will follow in life. Losing my sister could have turned me into a bitter, hateful person who blamed God for taking her far to early. But it didn’t. The trials that came before that and the ones that have come since could have turned my attitude. We experience trials, we have these burdens, sometimes more than we can handle, and in those times of need, it is ok for us to look at things, and open up our hearts and minds and accept that help from our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior and brother, Jesus Christ.
In our darkest moments, it can be hard to see beyond what you are feeling. Experiencing trials and tribulations over and over and over can pound down on you and batter you against the rocks again and again until you feel like giving up. It is in these moments, when you feel the most alone, that Heavenly Father is standing by you waiting. All you have to do is ask and he will encircle you in his arms. Often you feel so strong, so prideful that you KNOW that you can handle anything and everything that comes your way. Then you run headlong into trial and tribulation and all of a sudden you don’t feel quite so strong. Ask for the help you need. Let Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father give you strength and hope.
Jesus Christ gives me hope. He is always there for me. He helps me through the hard times. He carries me when I can’t walk on my own. He shares in my happiness and sorrows. Because he died for me, for all of us. He felt everything I have felt, everything I will feel. He truly knows exactly what I am feeling and can help me as I overcome my trials. One of my favorite scriptures 2 Nephi 31:20 says “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”
I pray that you will be able to find hope in your life. Look at the good things, the positive things and focus on them. I know what it feels like to want to just give up. Like there is no one that will listen. Remember that Heavenly Father is always there and is always listening. He hears and answers our prayers. This Easter season, remember the reason we celebrate is the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is because of his sacrifice that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is sharing 8 core principles that can lead to peace in your life and will help you draw closer to the Savior, Jesus Christ. I challenge you to do one of these each day. Visit visit mormon.org and learn more about the principles of peace and how they can help bring you closer to the Savior.
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