Things Will Work Out

“Things will work out. Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.” President Gordon B. Hinckley

Life can get pretty discouraging at times. Health problems, financial difficulties, feeling our own frailties and weaknesses as parents or just as human beings in general can all cause us to feel down. Sometimes it seems like there is no respite from all the little trials we have to face, but we can feel the peace. D&C 59:23 says, "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come."

Everything from broken down cars to bad hair cuts to bursitis and more can weigh on us heavily but I think the key to happiness is two-fold: first, obedience to the commandments of God and second, counting our blessings more than we count our trials. Often when we are doing our best to keep the commandments we find ourselves facing even more trials (we'll call this the "Job Effect"). Job faced some of the hardest trials that anyone could face but yet he remained steadfast in his testimony of Jesus Christ. He recognized that even though he had his family, his health, his friends and even his dignity taken from him that he still had blessings--he still had a testimony of the Savior, of His atonement and resurrection. He still had the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and he had the promise of "eternal life in the world to come."

So often I neglect to count my blessings, but when I take the time to really think about all that I have been endowed with I find myself feeling uplifted and happier despite the trials I have. The broken down cars don't seem so bad and suddenly I am blessed even more with comfort and the assurance that the Lord will take care of us. He won't let us down. He loves us and is aware of my fears and insecurities. He knows that I sometimes feel like a failure as a mother or that I got angry with that person at the store for taking the parking spot I was waiting for, but inspite of my weaknesses He still loves me anyway and wants for me to be happy.

Armed with knowledge of the Lord's love and fortified by gratitude for my blessings, I can keep trying. I become more believing and less discouraged and I know that indeed things will work out.

5 Things I Am Grateful For:
1. Family, Friends, Loved Ones
2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
3. Beauty--Beautiful writing, music, art. . .
4. Nature--flowers, birds, grass, trees, the moon and stars, the sun and rain, lightning and thunder, animals plants, the wondrous world that we live in
5. A body--a body that works, walks, and functions properly. Even though it may not meet the world's standards of beauty it is miraculous and I am so glad I have it.

What are you grateful for? I challenge you to list 5 things that bless your life.