Limits I Never Thought I Would Reach

I've mentioned my love of keeping a journal before. I have almost a dozen journals filled with my life story from the time I was 8 years old until now. I usually go back and read through them every few months or so. I like to go back and look at where I was on this date a year ago, two years ago, three years ago, etc. The other day I had this thought go through my head that I should go back and read my journals and see where I was the past few years on this date. I realized I hadn't gone back to read my journals in at least 6 months, which is uncommon for me, so I pulled out my last journals and went back to look at where I'd been two years ago. This was almost a year ago's post:

As I read this, I just started laughing. Business Objects is the Student Data Warehouse that I have written so much about. I am the pro in my office now, and am presenting on it at a conference in April. I have grown to love being a part of this project, and have learned so much about not only the software, but myself!

As I was laughing over this, I couldn't help thinking about this Mormon Message:

This part of this message really stood out:

"For just an instant, I thought perhaps I saw on that side road an old car with a devoted young wife and two little children. Just ahead of them I imagined that I saw a young fellow walking toward Kanarraville, the weight of a young father’s fear evident in his pace. In that imaginary instant, I couldn’t help calling out to him: “Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead.  Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.” 

As I was reading my journal from last winter, I was reminded of the overwhelming feelings of inadequacy that I felt at that time. The first few months of learning how to use the warehouse were hard! I do not have a background in IT, and having to learn a software system, both for myself and to be able to train all the Users, was one of the hardest assignments I've ever had. It has pushed me to limits I never thought I would reach, and caused me more stress than Al Capone did when I was in college. 

Much like Elder Holland, as I was reading my journal the other day, I wanted to cry to Past Cassandra and say "Don't give up! You keep trying! Put in the effort! It will pay off. There is help and happiness ahead. It will all be all right in the end. Trust in God and believe in good things to come. Your life will be blessed beyond comprehension. Don't despair! Oh, Cassandra, don't lose courage! The best is yet to come."

I feel that many times in our lives we get to that point in the road where we are ready to give up. It seems that life is working diligently to make sure we fail. It seems that all the hard days get harder, and the end seems to get further and further away. However, we can't lose hope! I have discovered in my life that the more I put my trust in God, the easier it is to go through my trials; not that the trial is taken away, but more that everything is put in its proper perspective, and with eternity as the end goal, I can hold strong to my faith and push forward. 

I know that "some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." Don't give up! It will all be right in the end. Thank you, Past Cassandra, for not giving up.

****I also recommend reading the talk, "An High Priest of Good Things to Come."