Finding Joy Amidst Sorrow

I just want to say that life is truly a beautiful thing. When you look to the Lord, there is little you will find that does not uplift you or push you to be better. We are constantly in a state of becoming something new, and embracing the truth of the gospel is the only way we can meet our full potential. It is so easy to be lulled into a sense of being "alright," but I can say that the Lord doesn't just want us to be "alright." If we are not growing into something new and better each day then we are really missing the mark. Yes, things get hard. Yes, life throws obstacles in our way at every turn. And yes, we won't always come out on top. But what we must remember is that the Christ knows our pain. He knows our sorrows. He knows our struggles. And he wants to help us so much. And if you let him, he will.

People sometimes have a hard time believing it, but I get down sometimes. You know, life is sometimes hard. And I feel it just as much as everyone else out there. I have my own imperfections I have to conquer, and I have my own stresses and disappointments. But I can tell you that I am who I am because the Lord has brought me through it all. Am I perfect? By no means. But do I feel like I am doing what is right? You bet. I try every day. And it is hard, but we can all do it with the Lord's help. Life will still be a struggle, but you will see that struggle transform before your very eyes if you accept his help. We are never so far away that he does not want us to return.

So all I have to say is man up and get it done, because there are no excuses. We are accountable for what we do with everything we have been given here, including our very own lives. With how willing the Lord is to help us, and considering everything he has given and will give us, we are limited only by our own stubbornness. We don't always do what is right and we slip up, but slipping is not failure unless we do not take advantage of the Atonement and return to the proper path. We all have the innate ability as children of an almighty God to become more than we can yet imagine. So, make the choice and decide now that you want to be better and that you will acknowledge and accept his help from this point on. And when you slip, do not fear, but have faith and return as quickly as you can. Only then can we begin to achieve our full potential.

Upon realizing this, your life changes immensely. What once would destroy you now pushes you to new heights that you never thought you could reach. Even now, for me, when things get hard, I see the Lord guiding me through it all once I decide that I am not going to be ruled by the world around me. In even the hardest of times, your life can be filled with peace and joy from your Savior. I know it. And to deny that I know it would be to deny something that is very intimately part of my soul. Look to the Lord and you will find everything you need.