Good things to come

This morning I watched a touching Mormon Messages video based on a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland in 1999. I remember listening to him speak in General Conference as a newlywed at BYU. I was inspired by his words at the time and referred to his message of hope and faith and trust over the next few years as I struggled with the challenges before me. One of the most prominent struggles in the early years of our marriage was infertility. I couldn't imagine our happy ending would ever come. But come it did!

As I reflect on that particular challenge, which was so personal and so painful, I can now see how the Lord was directing my life. Even though I still don't fully understand why that struggle was mine to endure, I made it through. Good things did come. Promised blessings were realized.

Today I have different challenges, but I still wonder about the happy ending. I can't see the light through the darkness. I get tired of holding on. But in the end, I know that good things will come, just as Elder Holland says. An excerpt from his talk reads thus:

"It is not without a recognition of life’s tempests but fully and directly because of them that I testify of God’s love and the Savior’s power to calm the storm. Always remember in that biblical story that He was out there on the water also, that He faced the worst of it right along with the newest and youngest and most fearful. Only one who has fought against those ominous waves is justified in telling us—as well as the sea—to “be still.” Only one who has taken the full brunt of such adversity could ever be justified in telling us in such times to “be of good cheer.” Such counsel is not a jaunty pep talk about the power of positive thinking, though positive thinking is much needed in the world. No, Christ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them. But even as the Lord avoids sugary rhetoric, He rebukes faithlessness and He deplores pessimism. He expects us to believe!"

I do believe. Even on the hardest days, I believe. Good things will come.