Faith

It's been about a month now since my last post. Guess I just got caught up in school and life. Well, I just had some thoughts I wanted to share. As many of you know, I've been dealing with stomach problems for the past few months, and it has been pretty miserable to say the least. But I'll tell you, I've learned two very valuable lessons from this experience. One, I have learned to be a lot more patient than I used to be, and two, I've learned to trust in my Heavenly Father and let him guide me. I've been at a loss as to what it is I need to do to solve my health problems. I've done everything I know of to fix it, but I've had no luck and I've made no progress. For a while, I was frustrated, but slowly, surely, I've come to feel the love of my Heavenly Father. I've felt Him wrap His arms around me and tell me that things are going to be okay. For the first time in my life I think I'm really willing to put all my trust in Him. I have the wonderful opportunity to be in an institute choir again this year, and one song we're singing, which most of you should be familiar with, is Lead, Kindly Light. I love the words of this inspired hymn; they have new meaning to me that they've never had before, and that is in part due to the trials I've experienced. As you read the following lines, really focus on the meaning of the words and how they can apply to your own life.

Lead, kindly light, amid th'en circling gloom;

Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet;

I do not ask to see the distant scene;

One step, enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that thou,

shouldst lead me on;

I loved to choose and see my path; but now,

Lead thou me on!

I love those words. The night has been dark, and I've felt far from the Spirit at times, but I've learned to trust in Him. One step at a time is enough for me now. I loved to choose my own path, but now, I'm ready to let the Lord lead me on. Another one of my favorite songs, Consider the Lilies, has the phrase "He will heal those who trust Him." When I heard that the other day, it struck me, as if I'd never heard it before. I think I've always considered that phrase to refer to healing heartbreak, grief, guilt, and other sorrows. But now I realize it refers to healing of any kind. When Christ was on the Earth, He healed many people of their physical ailments. Although Christ is no longer walking among us on Earth, does that mean that He no longer performs miracles and heals the sick and afflicted? Of course not! In fact, I think His miracles abound like never before. Isn't modern medicine, for instance, a miracle? Who do you think inspired the men and women of our time to discover the breakthroughs, and the medicines and the surgical techniques we have now? I think it is quite obvious that Christ is working in full force today, and His miracles can be seen in every corner of the world. By putting my faith in my Heavenly Father I have come to know more fully of the reality of the healing power of the Savior's atoning sacrifice. I KNOW that somehow, someway, despite what the doctors have told me, that I will find a solution to my health problems, so that I can live a full life. All the odds may seem against me, my chances of getting better may seem grim, the doctors may tell me this is permanent, but I know something that I cannot deny. I have felt the love of my Heavenly Father and the love of my Savior, and through the Spirit I have come to know that everything is going to work out. I'm SO thankful for the gospel in my life, and I'm thankful for the companionship of the Holy Spirit to guide me day by day. I hope we can all learn to have faith in Him who sacrificed all for us, allow Him to "lead us on," and come to know of the Atonement's healing power in our lives. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.