Trials and Learning

I love this quote from Sister Elaine S. Dalton:

There have been several times in my life where things have happened that I didn't want to happen. 

A couple years ago, a decision changed my life completely!  It wasn't very predictable, and it wasn't something I wanted to do at the time. But going through that trial changed my life in ways that nothing else would have been able to do. A few months into that trial and change, I had to make a decision. I had to decide if I was going to continue down my current path or to turn to the Lord and trust in him with faith. I made the decision to turn to Him, and because of that one decision 18 months ago, I have stronger testimony of the atonement and have improved my relationship with the Savior. 

A couple months ago, another decision has changed my life. It has been so interesting to see the difference of what two years has done to me. The first thing I did was pray to my Heavenly Father to help me, strengthen me, and give me peace. I have still had a really hard time, but it helps having the Lord helping me through this trial from the beginning. 

In both cases, these two decisions that were made, weren't mine, I just suffered the consequences of the decisions. It is hard when trials come upon me when I didn't even make the decision, but in both cases I have been able to learn and grow. Trusting in the Lord during hard times of trial can be difficult, but I know that life will turn out how it is suppose to according to God's plan. I am still eternally grateful for the experiences that I was able to learn from them, even though they tend to be a struggle at times. 

A quote that really has helped me the past month is from Elder Jeffery R. Holland's General Conference report in 2013. 

"In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited...When those moments come, and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes."

I really like how that even in times of trial and hardship, if I just keep holding on with the little knowledge that I have about the situation, one day, in this life or the next, I will have a greater knowledge. But for now, it's important that I just keep going, turning to the Lord, and keep improving, and one day, things will get better!