Growing Pains
I was reading through some of my books today and found some really great quotes with one in particular that I am going to share with you all today. It comes from the book entitled Life Lessons from the Book of Mormon by Jack R. Christianson and K. Douglas Bassett.
"The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your indiviual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.
Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness."
-Elder Richard G. Scott, April 1996 General Conference
This quote is in the chapter "Finding Happiness amid Affliction". It's hard to be happy all of the time. It's hard to be happy when we are hurting. It's hard to be happy when we feel like there is nothing to be happy about. But the reality is that we are all going through trials that are stretching us. He knows what we can handle and what we can't. The Lord knows us perfectly and knows what will test our faith and bring us closer to Him. That is all He wants from us is to become like Him, and we do that through how we persevere through our trials and tribulations.
I have come to know this for myself. I am going through things that others tell me they wouldn't be able to handle. I look at those same people and realize I wouldn't be able to handle what they are. The Lord knows us perfectly. He knows that it's hard for me to be without Mom. He knows it's hard for me to push myself to exercise and become more healthy. He knows it's hard for me to make decisions that I have had to lately, but He also knows that I will be a better disciple for going through all of these things.
It's a painful process to learn and grow in the way that the Lord wants us to. I do know that it will be worth it. It hurts right now, but when we look back on ourselves, we will say, "I am a better person. Christ helped me become a better person and I am eternally grateful for Him."
Ending words of comfort from President Gordon B. Hinckley to reassure you that I am not speaking like a crazy person: "It isn't as bad as you sometime think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out! If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us." (Ensign, October 2000, p 73).
He will never forsake us. Ever. He loves us. And He is here for us. We must reach out to Him in our times of need and ask for His help. We don't have to hurt alone.
"The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your indiviual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.
Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness."
-Elder Richard G. Scott, April 1996 General Conference
This quote is in the chapter "Finding Happiness amid Affliction". It's hard to be happy all of the time. It's hard to be happy when we are hurting. It's hard to be happy when we feel like there is nothing to be happy about. But the reality is that we are all going through trials that are stretching us. He knows what we can handle and what we can't. The Lord knows us perfectly and knows what will test our faith and bring us closer to Him. That is all He wants from us is to become like Him, and we do that through how we persevere through our trials and tribulations.
I have come to know this for myself. I am going through things that others tell me they wouldn't be able to handle. I look at those same people and realize I wouldn't be able to handle what they are. The Lord knows us perfectly. He knows that it's hard for me to be without Mom. He knows it's hard for me to push myself to exercise and become more healthy. He knows it's hard for me to make decisions that I have had to lately, but He also knows that I will be a better disciple for going through all of these things.
It's a painful process to learn and grow in the way that the Lord wants us to. I do know that it will be worth it. It hurts right now, but when we look back on ourselves, we will say, "I am a better person. Christ helped me become a better person and I am eternally grateful for Him."
Ending words of comfort from President Gordon B. Hinckley to reassure you that I am not speaking like a crazy person: "It isn't as bad as you sometime think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out! If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us." (Ensign, October 2000, p 73).
He will never forsake us. Ever. He loves us. And He is here for us. We must reach out to Him in our times of need and ask for His help. We don't have to hurt alone.
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