I've been struggling with a little depression lately and that's why I haven't posted. But I came across a quote yesterday in a book I was reading that had to do with this post. I don't think it's a coincidence that I keep coming across quotes or messages about this topic.


"Life is not perfect. And sometimes in your world...you need things to go exactly as you've planned....But you forget...we are here living God's plan. Sometimes things might seem like they are falling apart or going wrong because God has something better planned for us around the corner....Life is a learning journey....But sometimes I think you forget the lessons being taught."

-Beth Wiseman, author

Thank you Heavenly Father, for reminding me to persevere.

*Persevere: "to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly "

-http://dictionary.reference.com

Lesson to learn: to persevere "...in spite of difficulty, obstacles or discouragement."

Attitudes Towards Adversity Affects our Results

You know the saying, "When it rains it pours?" Well, what if that "rain" is preparing us for something FANTASTIC that is just around the corner and we just need to keep pressing forward with faith in order to obtain it? 

For example...I was driving my kids to a small water park a few weeks ago to meet up with family. I was on the freeway going 75 mph when my SUV started shaking every time I pressed down on the gas pedal. I could maintain speed, barely, but I had slowed to 60 mph because of traffic in front of me and couldn't accelerate later when I tried. I kept praying that the cars behind me would recognize in time that I was driving slower than the speed limit and not hit me. I also kept saying over and over, "OH, please, oh please don't be a flat tire." I pulled off the freeway on the next exit. I parked and got out and walked around and checked all the tires. All good! I then got back in the car and the "check engine" light came on. So I drove through back roads and limped my SUV a couple of miles to our mechanics shop. It needed a complete tune-up. A couple of hundred dollars later...all fixed, right?

My husband then drove the SUV to Scout Camp a week later and the brakes started acting up. He took it to Les Schwab to look at it and when they looked at our tires they wouldn't even pull our tires off our SUV because our tires had worn down past the tread line. So we drove it to our mechanics shop and they fixed the brakes and pads, and a couple of hundred dollars later...(:

The handles on this SUV broke so you can't open the driver's door or the back from the outside or the passenger's door from the inside. So, my husband ordered some replacement handles to fix it. 

Also, our SUV and car developed the same problem that needs to get fixed as soon as possible in order to pass inspection next month. 

So, with new tires we will have poured in just about as much money as our SUV is worth! But, my husband told me that it is mechanically sound and I'm just grateful we can afford the repairs and that we don't have a car payment because both our vehicles are paid off.

During adversity, look for tender mercies 

that are blessings from Heavenly Father.

It is a tender mercy that our cars ran so well at the beginning of this year when my husband decided to become completely self employed. That was one expense that we didn't have to worry about. My husband and I have been praying about something for a few weeks and in a round about way, this adversity with our SUV has helped us know our answer.

During Sunday School in church on Sunday someone made the comment that,

"Adversity compels us make decisions.

It forces us to come to terms with

our values and our beliefs."  

And then later in the lesson the Sunday School teacher said,

"Adversity is often a stepping stone for what comes next in our life."

It is often through other people that Heavenly Father answers our prayers and gives us the counsel that we needed to hear.

If we react negatively to adversity and temporarily give up hope we may "miss the boat" and lose out on the rewards and blessings that the Lord had in store for us...those that were just around the corner and determinant upon our faithfulness.

Seeking after Praiseworthy Things

I love reading about or watching inspiring stories.

It's so uplifting

as I see other people

face obstacles

in their own lives

and overcome them

and then go on to help others.

The following is a story about

a 10 time cancer survivor.

TEN TIMES!!

Wow.

His Attitude

and Faith

are amazing.

The news article on his story reads,
"...he pushes on with faith that
God has a reason for afflicting him.
In fact, Travis says
he believes that he is blessed
to have such a 'visual' trial.
People know that he is sick,
and everyone rallies
to support him
and his family."

He knows what his purpose here on earth is.

 

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=1137&sid=21124706&title=man-stricken-with-cancer-10-times-considers-himself-blessed#ooid=xxNTBjNTosEWfKaIrPNOnRB53ZGBuhhJ

 

 

I read a quote yesterday that comforted me.

I found it in Gerald N. Lund's book called Fire of the Covenant

which is about the Willie and Martin Handcart companies

and the trials and afflictions they faced.

It's by Elder Neil A. Maxwell who said,

"How could we expect to be joyous

and to receive ALL

that 'the Father hath'

if we do not strive to become like Him?

And, in fact, can we,

on our scale,

be like Him

WITHOUT sharing in the 

'fellowship of his sufferings'?

He shares with us His work;

does that not suggest

the need for

our sharing, too,

some of the 

suffering?

If in all of this there is some

understandable trembling,

the adrenaline of affliction

can help to ensure

that our pace

will be brisk

rather than casual.

His grace 

will cover us like a cloak--

enough to provide for

survival

but too thin

to keep out ALL

the cold.

The seeming cold 

is there to keep us

from drowsiness,

and gospel gladness 

warms us enough 

to keep going."

A little while ago I have a few good weeks in a row

and then seemingly all of sudden

I was depressed.

I was really, really, disappointed.

I had had the feeling that I was finally overcoming

the depression.

But as C.S. Lewis wrote, 
"Our Father [in Heaven] refreshes us on the
journey [through life]
with some pleasant inns,
but [He] will not encourage us
to mistake them for home”
(C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, New York: Macmillan, 1967, p. 103.)

The brief respites and His grace enables us to keep going.