Life is Happy
Dear Future Cassandra,
Today I sat in a devotional at the Institute Building where we heard from both Elder Holland and Elder Oaks. I almost died of happiness. You're welcome that I didn't; you wouldn't be here if I had.
I've been so happy these past few weeks. I have done a lot of soul searching and thinking and pondering and praying, and I have found myself in the happiest of places, at the happiest time of my life. Where is that anxiety that so often plagues me and forces me to destroy my self worth? Where is the fear of letting people into my life? Where have my commitment issues rushed off to? I seem to be living in a place that I did not realize could exist. I did not realize I could have days where anxiety would not be eating me alive. I see the future with so much more happiness than I have previously, which is weird! I know I've been happy before. The thing I have discovered is that I seem to find happiness, then pass through the refiners fire, and come out more happy and more open to happiness than before. After last years anxiety filled events, I seem to have found that happiness again, and it is amazing. It is amazing what Christ can do for us, even with our imperfect mortal bodies in the way.
Today's devotional reminded me of why that happiness exists, and why it keeps growing. It reminded me of why I keep pushing, and enduring to the end, even when my life is spiraling downward. Here are a few thoughts, as well as my notes, for a reminder to you, because, if you are anything like me, Future Cassandra (which, let's be real.... there's something of me in you, right?), then you will be passing through another dark and scary road before too long, and you will need the reminder of the happiness that comes because of the trials of our faith.
Yes, there is a lot of heartache and sorrow in store; I mean, let's be real, it wouldn't be life if there wasn't. However, with the knowledge that you and I have of Christ and His Atonement, and the joy that is meant to be had because of the Plan of Salvation, life is not all sadness and heartache. Life is happy and full of joy. There is so much promise because of the trials that wrench our very heart strings. There is so much comfort in knowing that God has a plan for me! There is so much joy because Christ will not give up on me.
Future Cassandra, don't forget that we need opposition; that we need to experience the pain in order to understand the pleasure. Don't forget how much happiness comes because of Christ.
Today I sat in a devotional at the Institute Building where we heard from both Elder Holland and Elder Oaks. I almost died of happiness. You're welcome that I didn't; you wouldn't be here if I had.
I've been so happy these past few weeks. I have done a lot of soul searching and thinking and pondering and praying, and I have found myself in the happiest of places, at the happiest time of my life. Where is that anxiety that so often plagues me and forces me to destroy my self worth? Where is the fear of letting people into my life? Where have my commitment issues rushed off to? I seem to be living in a place that I did not realize could exist. I did not realize I could have days where anxiety would not be eating me alive. I see the future with so much more happiness than I have previously, which is weird! I know I've been happy before. The thing I have discovered is that I seem to find happiness, then pass through the refiners fire, and come out more happy and more open to happiness than before. After last years anxiety filled events, I seem to have found that happiness again, and it is amazing. It is amazing what Christ can do for us, even with our imperfect mortal bodies in the way.
Today's devotional reminded me of why that happiness exists, and why it keeps growing. It reminded me of why I keep pushing, and enduring to the end, even when my life is spiraling downward. Here are a few thoughts, as well as my notes, for a reminder to you, because, if you are anything like me, Future Cassandra (which, let's be real.... there's something of me in you, right?), then you will be passing through another dark and scary road before too long, and you will need the reminder of the happiness that comes because of the trials of our faith.
- Obey God's Commandments, come what may
- In good times or bad, as a disciple of Christ we must follow Christ with every ounce of our being, in every moment.
- What do I do when the call comes to serve?
- To compete as a top competitor, we must push through the pain, and when we are at the line of agony, we must push through and experience the agony. We will never be true gold medalists without the agony. We can give up and turn around and let go of the pain, but we will never become the best that we can be without that agony.
- Regardless of the outcome, we must understand what the gospel means to each of us, and be prepared to defend it.
- My parents are the best examples of this principle. We must be tried and tested in order to become our best selves. I can't think of a more better example of selfless and Christlike people than my parents. Even with our human inadequacies, and our cries of unfairness to the Lord, we keep moving forward. Do not give up when life gets hard. It's supposed to be hard.
- Without the hardest of trials - the moments that wrench our very heart strings- we would never be prepared to receive all that God has to offer us.
- Perspective is what keeps us going!
- Opposition is required in all things! Without opposition, we would not have choices, and without choices, we would not have growth!
- Satan seeks to drive away the Holy Ghost - our decisions may not hurt us physically, but our spirits will suffer.
- Find a balance in feeding both our temporal and our spiritual bodies. Do not starve one or the other. I have been thinking a lot about this. Someone told me a while ago that I spend so much time at the temple and institute that it makes it really hard to date me. Am I living a balanced life in regards to feeding my spirit but also feeding my temporal needs? Something to think about.
- What is my purpose in being in Salt Lake right now, at this moment in my life? Why does the Lord need me here?
- Trust in God and His plan for me.
- Remember who I am, and what God sees me becoming.
- The best place to learn what God expects of me is in the temple.
- Despite our human nature, we can do it - we can be obedient!
Yes, there is a lot of heartache and sorrow in store; I mean, let's be real, it wouldn't be life if there wasn't. However, with the knowledge that you and I have of Christ and His Atonement, and the joy that is meant to be had because of the Plan of Salvation, life is not all sadness and heartache. Life is happy and full of joy. There is so much promise because of the trials that wrench our very heart strings. There is so much comfort in knowing that God has a plan for me! There is so much joy because Christ will not give up on me.
Future Cassandra, don't forget that we need opposition; that we need to experience the pain in order to understand the pleasure. Don't forget how much happiness comes because of Christ.
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