Trials. . .

I have to say that this past month has been one of the most challenging times of my life. I have personally gone through more trials than my body and mind. . . obviously can handle. Whether it be in my marriage, our work, our family . . and my health, it truly has been a trying time for me. I have questioned myself many times on whether I am strong enough to endure these things that have been placed in my pathway and have been looking for answers to guide me through. It has been especially hard the last 2 weeks trying to deal with these obstacles with Cory gone. He is gone a lot and I normally can cope with being a single mom . . . but not this month. Sometimes it's hard for me to rely on faith but realize it's all I have . . . today I came across this message tonight that instantly gave comfort to me. . and has become an answer to many prayers that I have been seeking answers for. I hope someone else can be inspired by it as I have been.

"I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He, "would fight [our] battles, [our] children's battles, and [the battles of our] children's children." And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to "search diligently, pray always, and be believing. Then all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted." The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants.I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need... I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so, I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. "Nor will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved." On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places... but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.May we all believe more readily in, and have more gratitude for, the Lord's promise as contained in one of President Monson's favorite scriptures: "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left,... my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." In the process of praying for those angels to attend us, may we all try to be a little more angelic ourselves - with a kind word, a strong arm, a declaration of faith and "the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted." Perhaps, then we can be emissaries sent from God..."
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Ensign, November 2008)