Nothing is Impossible

In Luke 1, two seemingly impossible events happen. First, Elisabeth who is stricken in years and barren, is blessed with a child. Then the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she, being a virgin, will give birth to the Son of God. It seems impossible to believe that either could happen. However verse 37 says "For with God nothing shall be impossible". Both DID happen because God made it happen. If we have faith in Him nothing is impossible.

Sometimes through our trials it seems like everything is impossible. It seems like there is no solution to the problems that arise. It will all never end. Sometimes the Lord asks us to do something that really is impossible...to us. At that point we need to remember that we have the Lord on our side and he can do ANYTHING. He will never ask us to do something without there being a way to accomplish what he's asked us to do. Sometimes it may take patience to see the end result but right there in Luke it teaches us that nothing is impossible. 

Make use of all our means

Alma 60:21 says "Or do ye suppose that The Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?"

This verse is written in a letter from Moroni to Pahoran. He's talking about how the government is not sending provisions and soldiers to his armies. The government has so much and is not utilizing what they have been blessed with. 

As I studied that verse I realized that I can apply that to my situation. I've been given medical help, friends, family, etc to help me through my fight with bipolar. When I fail to use them I'm wasting what the Lord has blessed me with. I shared that with a friend and she pointed out that it applied financially too. I hadn't even thought if that. Recently I started a new treatment that is very expensive, on top of that I may have to start taking a brand new medication that my insurance won't pay for. If things work out that way, it will add up financially really quickly. It's had me very worried. However, as my friend pointed out, the Lord has blessed us with the means to do what it takes to heal me, we need to utilize what we've been given, whatever resource that is.  I love that even reading about the wars in Alma I can find little things to boost me. 

He Does Listen

A few days ago I was seriously struggling. My thoughts and feelings were getting out of control and I knew I needed help. At that point I started praying that Heavenly Father would send me someone to help. A text or phone call from someone or a surprise visit. Anything. I knew he had the ability to inspire someone to help. I prayed and continued to have to fight and the way I could see it, my prayer was never answered. Nobody ever came to help. It frustrated me and made me feel like Heavenly Father abandoned me at my hour of most need. Why would he leave me alone like that? I talked to a friend and she said he was with me and I wasn't alone. I didn't believe her. All I knew was I went through a lot and felt so alone. 

Tonight I've been thinking and praying about that experience. While praying it suddenly hit me that he did answer my prayer, just not in the way I thought he would. He didn't send me a friend or family member. He was there instead. As I thought about that I felt peace. He really was there. He was the reason I was able to get back up again and recover. I would have been lost if he weren't there. My friend was right, he was with me, I just needed to figure that out for myself. 

A Mother's Touch

While reading in "Daughters in My Kingdom" on page 156, there is a quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard. He said "Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman."

I've often thought that I can easily be replaced. That my husband can fill in the gaps and I'm not needed. This quote is the perfect reminder to me that my husband cannot do the things I can do. He wouldn't be able to fill in the gaps. Just like if he were gone, there is no way I could fill in the gaps he would leave behind. We each have our specific roles and ways we bless our family and those around us. Heavenly Father designed it that way so we could all learn and grow from each other. There are things my children can only learn from their mother. Try as he might, their dad cannot teach them those things. It's just that mother's touch. 

Lead, Kindly Light

In Relief Society a while back, a sister played "Lead, Kindly Light" on the piano. While she did, I followed along with the words in the hymn book. As I did, the first two lines really touched me:

"Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom; Lead thou me on!

"The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on!"

Those lines touched me because I've felt that way before. I've felt the encircling gloom. It's all consuming! It's painful! I've felt that dark night where I may not have been physically away from home but mentally and emotionally I was very far away. That's a lonely, dark night. However as dark as those moments have been, there have been times when I've prayed for guidance and my prayer has been answered in a profound way. Other times have been less profound, but He still answers. At those dark moments the best solution has been to turn to The Lord and say "Lead thou me on!" and He will. He will lead us on in the best possible way for each of us. 

Counsel with the Lord

While studying scriptures, I came across Alma 37:37 which reads "Counsel with The Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good". As I pondered that verse I thought about all the people I've sought counsel with: my husband, family, friends, doctors, counselors and my bishop. Then it hit me, yes they each play an important role in my healing process BUT Heavenly Father plays the biggest role. He is the most important individual to counsel with. I have relied on him for help but now I wonder how much I've done my way verses his way. He knows the best path for healing for me. He knows the whole plan. He's the best person to rely on for guidance and direction.  All the others that are helping me are Heavenly Father's tools. He is the master though, he is in control. If I turn to him for direction, he will help me figure all of this out. The best solution is to counsel with the Lord in everything!

Temptations of the Adversary

In his most recent conference address, Elder Bednar spoke on chastity and he also spoke on the power and desires of Satan. He said "Because a physical body is so central to the Father's plan of happiness and our spiritual development, Lucifer seeks to frustrate our progression by tempting us to use our bodies improperly." I can attest to that statement  and it doesn't apply just to the area of chastity. He wants to see us inflict harm upon our bodies in any way he possibly can. 

That quote really hit me during one particular hard week. I had desires to harm myself. That week, while on a walk, I was really struggling. I turned on Elder Bednar's talk and the quote really hit me. It occurred to me that following through on the thoughts in my mind are exactly what Satan wants me to do. As I realized that, the peace and comfort of the Spirit came over me. I knew that Satan could only get me if I let him. Satan wants me to fail and he's trying his hardest to make that happen. However, Heavenly Father can keep me from failing. 

One of my darkest moments through this trial came when I distanced myself from my Heavenly Father. When I did that He could no longer protect me from the power of the adversary. Satan is out to get all of us. However, if we stay on the Lord's side, Satan will have no power over us. I was so grateful for that little bit of peace and comfort I felt while on my walk.