Trials And Triumphs

I just finished an enjoyable weekend down in St. George with friends and family. I was able to see my newest nephew for the first time. It was amazing to be able to hold his 1 week old body and feel his little spirit. My testimony of the plan of salvation and the reality of our Heavenly Father and Savior were strengthened as I watched him sleep. I have thought about the trials and triumphs that he will have in his life. He will be faced with difficulties and struggles that he will have to overcome. He will also witness many triumphs that will fortify his own testimony. He will rise and fall like we all do and will need to learn through experience.

Over the weekend I thought about how our lives are a series of trials and triumphs that shape us into who we are. We have the choice, every day, to decide how we want to be shaped. Each day we will most likely be faced with some sort of trial. How we decide to deal with that trial will shape our futures. One thing I have learned over the past months is that we need to face our trials and then replace them with something positive. Understand and realize the trial is there and then look for ways to replace it. Now this doesn't mean to run from it or sweep it under the rug but it means to really truly face it and acknowledge it's presence, and then shift your thoughts to positive reinforcement. I have found that this works very well and can be very empowering. You begin to witness many small triumphs in your life. You have triumphs that you never realized before and you begin to appreciate how often the triumphs come! It is also very empowering to prepare yourself for trials. Know that they will come and prepare yourself mentally and spiritually for them. It is never fun to feel blindsided by a trial so it is comforting to know and understand that they will come and we can be prepared to face them. Obviously we can't predict certain trials but we can do a lot to prepare ourselves.

Recently I have been presented with another trial. One of those situations where you feel like you can't catch a break! Trials can be especially hard when people who you love are involved and you wish things could be different. Thankfully, through facing my previous trials, I have learned how to weather the storm. I know that I can't control a lot of things. But I can control my reaction, my actions, and how I move forward. And of course, if I steer my thoughts toward others and away from myself, I can find peace and comfort easier.

Trials and triumphs come in many forms and vary in magnitude. We are in charge of a lot more than we realize! Our attitudes and decisions determine how we will overcome. I know that if we face our trials and then focus on our triumphs we will find peace, understanding, and comfort in our lives. Our Father in Heaven is constantly blessing us and I know that he loves each of us individually. I am grateful for the trials and triumphs we face in this life and how we learn and grow from all of them.