Dear Sisters,
Why is it that faithful Saints have trials and tribulations, even when we are trying to do Heavenly Father's will? Why does it seem so hard? Why such terrible tribulations? To what end? For what purpose? As we ask these questions, we realize as we have been taught the purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we "wait upon the Lord."
Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, no matter how difficult our circumstances, "all these things shall [ be for our]
experience, and...[our] good" (D&C 122:7).
Does this mean we will always understand our challenges? Won't all of us, sometime, have reason to ask, "O God, where art thou? Yes! When as a family we experience financial hardship. When children wander from the path, a mother and a father will cry out in sorrow. When we or a loved one experiences a major health issue. In Psalms 30:5 "weeping may endure throught the night, but joy cometh in the morning". Then, in the dawn or our increased faith and understanding, we arise and choose to wait upon the Lord, saying, "they will be done." In the scriptures to wait upon the Lord means to hope, anticipate, and trust. Quoting Elder Hales he says, "To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end."
Sisters, we live in the latter days when we need to be prepared for the trials and tests that will come our way. May we look at our various challenges as growth opportunities in the areas of increasing our faith, hope, and trusting in the Lord and what he has done for us as we endure to the end. We have been blessed with a wonderful sisterhood within the divinely organized Relief Society, may we strengthen ourselves and one another, watch over one another, and pray for one another always. May we remember that we are never alone! Our Savior will always be there for us!.
With Love,
Sister Sallye Johnston
Centralia Stake Relief Society President
