Do you ever have one of those weeks or months where it seems everyone around you is going through some major trial? and it starts to wear on you and make your heart a little heavier. I have had that kind of couple of weeks. We learned my father in law has bone cancer-but he won't tell us or talk to us, friends of mine are going through horrible divorces, others have children suffering from drug addiction, another friends is suffering from suicidality and deep depression, others have spouses battling addiction to pornography.....and the list goes on and on and on. By the end of last week-in learning that one more family that I care about is and has been suffering through the depths of tragedy -just threw me over the edge and I was tearful all week. Life is hard!! I know that is not news to any of you readers. As I tried to make sense of the horror and destruction in those I love - live's ----none of it made sense!! I had to go back the basics --the very basic parts of my testimony that I know God is real and that he understands all and will make all --right. My knowledge that this life is but a moment in the scheme of things -helps. And my knowledge that god has a plan --life is not just random. I can see how it is easy to begin to doubt gods hand in all this --how could he allow such suffering --how can good people do such wrong things. It made me reflect again on the things most important in life --and that is LOVE. The love of god -and the love of others. I don't care how many times you go to the temple -or what calling you have in church or how often you read your scriptures --if you do not have charity --as the scriptures say-you are nothing!
Moroni 7:46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail.
1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
President Holland talks about God's love and hope through the atonement, in his most awesome talk titled, Like A broken Vessel . (you can watch it on our Speeches tab above)
"How do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront
you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in
Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. As President Monson
said to the Relief Society sisters so movingly last Saturday evening:
“That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or
happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or
not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there.”
Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart.
Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the
Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold
keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. Take the sacrament
every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement
of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come
when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never
lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all,
remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not
pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead."
