Believing in the Now, and Your Future
thoughts on putting trust in the tender mercies of God
One thing that requires remembering often is the lesson that comes from taking control of what we can control, which is the many events and processes happening inside ourselves.
My husband and I try to do temple work once a month. When we first tried to go often as a newly married couple (new as in one or two months fresh), we were hit with so many trials and it was becoming difficult to mentally prepare ourselves for the temple.
However, as the Lord promised, the more my husband and I intentionally took the time to prepare ourselves for the temple, it has become such an essential part of our lives every month. Going to the temple and doing work for my family on the other side of the veil gives us such an extraordinary peaceful reset that fills my whole body to the brim. To me, feeling such a way is the best way I can describe experiencing a fullness of joy.
God does not want you to only experience happiness once, or in a few small moments in your life. He created us to have joy. Granted, all sorts of storms come and it’s only natural in this life to try, strengthen, refine, nourish, and even prove our faith—the truth still remains, we have been given a divine gift to choose how we want to live and what to focus on no matter what our circumstances are.
If you are struggling to pick one good thing over another good thing, who’s to say that you cannot lay hold upon every good thing?1 The Lord has given us the way, the gift, and the ability to discern and mindfully judge right from wrong. When there’s a will, you are always given a way—even if it seems so impossible and overwhelming in your mind. The grace of understanding that His ways, wisdom, and thoughts are higher than ours should be of comfort that however we choose to serve our families and loved ones, we are serving the Lord with a true and honest heart.
25 aAdam bfell that men might be; and men care, that they might have djoy.
—2 Nephi 2: 252
Below is something that made me smile and cry at the same time. As a writer it really hits home. Our efforts never go to waste, and the Lord is mindful of us. Don’t give up!
Super encouraging post, Jae! Writing about 'going to do temple work' just sounds heart lifting! Allowing good things from God to be experienced, I struggle with. I am more trying to anticipate the next crazy news. We are on vacation now with friends, and spent the last 3 days just relaxing in every kind of way. But it's so hard to ALLOW fun and joy, when just doing the routine, in daily life. Thank you for your words and for the 'just great' video! Always an encouragement!
I love your writing! Thank you for your insights. I also love the poem you shared.