Constant, Unconditional Faith Through Adversity.

Let's be real, folks. Life is freaking hard.  

No one is exempt from hard things, no matter what their life looks like on Instagram. So, don't ever think that you are the only one suffering or that you have been singled out. And don't compare your trials to anyone else. What may not seem difficult to you is breaking someone else down. And the trials you are handling and getting through might be torture to someone else. We are not meant to judge one another. We are only meant to love and respect one another, and feel for one another.
Trials are a necessary part of life. Unless you figure that out, your life is going to be even harder. Accept the adversity that comes. Face it, feel it, grieve it, embrace it, work through it and overcome it so you can move on to the next hurdle. I know, that's a lot easier said than done.

I've endured depression and anxiety, I've battled an eating disorder, my heart's been broken more than once, I've seen people I love most suffer in countless ways, I've struggled through infertility and miscarriage and I buried my sweet firstborn son. It's not like my life has been "perfect," and neither has yours. No one's has. That's my point. You have your own laundry list of trials, and I am sure I wouldn't want to trade for yours. 

I'm not going to pretend that whatever you are going though is no big deal or that your hurt or your grief isn't valid. We are human and we just don't see the big picture. But here is what I know. I know that whatever your trail is it won't last forever, "Peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment..." and something great awaits you, "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." (Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-8)

Enduring it well. That is the hardest part, right? When everything feels so wrong, so unfair, so not worth it- how can we endure it well?

My answer is and always will be: faith. Faith in all things. Constant, unconditional faith. My faith is in my Father in Heaven and in His son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know they love me in a complete and all-encompassing love I cannot even comprehend. Since I know that, I know that none of my difficulties in life are a result of cruelty. It is only in The Lord's nature to offer us the best. I have faith that every hardship I endure, or you endure, is to make us stronger and better. Through the things I have gone through I have become a more compassionate, understanding and just a better person. I have a strength in me now I never knew I could possess. None of my trials have ruined my life, because all those hard things have brought me my greatest blessings. If not for those trials, I wouldn't have the things I love most. 

Trials and tribulations always precede incredible blessings. God is good. He loves us. He wants to bless us! We just have to have faith and patience. If we don't endure well, if we despise our trials and see them as curses we will never notice our blessings. 

Spencer W. Kimball said, "Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery."

Our trials are not our curses. Through these sufferings we are made strong. The Lord is not punishing you; He is preparing you. Have faith through the storms. Clear skies are ahead.
Trust me, this is still a good life.

XO