Darkness and Sadness Will Not Endure

I gave a talk in church two weeks ago about overcoming trials and how to respond to life's difficult circumstances.  Here's a quote by Elder Hales that illustrates perfectly what our attitude should be during trials:

I have come to understand how useless it is to dwell on the "whys," "what ifs," and "if onlys" for which there likely will be given no answers in mortality.  To receive the Lord's comfort, we must exercise faith.  The questions "Why me?" "Why our family?" "Why now?" are usually unanswerable questions.  These questions detract from our spirituality and can destroy our faith.  We need to spend our time and energy building our faith by turning to the Lord and asking for strength to overcome the pains and trials of this world and to endure to the end for greater understanding.

 

I love that quote.  It's more meaningful to me because I gave this talk at a critical time in my life.  My grandma was diagnosed with cancer last year, and her health has been declining rapidly in the past few months.  My grandpa (the same grandma's husband) had a stroke last week and will be in the hospital for a month for physical therapy, trying to learn how to eat again and move any part of the left side of his body.  My supervisor at work passed away last week due to lung cancer and a heart tumor.  And then Ashleigh. 

 

For whatever reason, I'm experiencing a lot of heartache and sorrow right now.  In our lives we will have our dark days, but because of Jesus Christ we can have hope in overcoming our trials and ultimately returning to live with our Heavenly Father.

 

In class today, Dr. Coyne shared a quote from the Ensign that really touched me.  And I found a Mormon Message based off that same talk by Elder Wirthlin.  It's an amazing, uplifting message.  May we all have the faith and strength to turn to Christ in our heartaches and hardships.  And remember, darkness and sadness will not endure.