Well it's been a rather interesting day. To this day one year ago I found out that my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. and today I find out that the Lord has given our family another challenge/blessing. My grandfather fell and broke his hip. Well you may wonder why I say challenge and blessing. I have written several things about this subject but it seems like I should write another. Hopefully when the trials come in my life I'll be able to apply what I say today and from days before. Elder Robert D. Hales of the quorum of the 12 apostles spoke this weekend of "Waiting on the Lord" This principle is a principle of patience. The Lord often has times that he gives his blessings in an outpouring. It's in times like these that life becomes easy. He also give trials which seem to make us feel like we are having a hard time in life. Well, that is what he does, and it is his will. I have learned that "whomsoever the Lord loveth the Lord chasteneth" Now trials don't always come to humble ourselves or because we have falling into the path of sin. Often times bad things happen to really great obedient people. But sometimes the Lord just is requiring a bit of our faith, or requiring us to strengthen our faith that we have. Either way, or anywhich way the trials come and when you think you can overcome them all here comes another to slap you in the face. The Lord has said :
"If thou art called to pass through tribulation ...If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring...And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (D&C 122)
The Lord has stated it simple no matter what happens to us these things are part of our testing period. Joseph Smith waited on the Lord in Liberty Jail (pretty ironic falsely imprisoned to a place with such a name) He waited 6 months before he asked in humble prayer "O God, where art thou?" I can't imagine the kinds of trials that will come in my life and I have no way to prevent them, but they will come to all of us. And when they do, will we be ready for them? Will we be ready to stand strong for what we believe? Only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ are we prepared for these things. I pray that as we face our trials that we will recognize what we are supposed to learn and that we will be able to face each of them. That we may wait on the Lord to lift our burdens. Wait in faith, wait til we have the patience we need to overcome all trials. I pray that as we strive to follow our Savior even more, that we will fulfill the plan our our creator, and wait on the Lord for the blessings to come. That we will see the good in life and what the Lord has left us with. For if he wanted, it could be gone in the wink of an eye!
I love you all and so does our Heavenly Father may we all gain the patience and faith through waiting on the Lord to surpass any of the upcoming trials in each of our lives!
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-Elder Heaton
Philippines Bacolod Mission
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