Life stinks

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Yep, you read it right. On this blog, which was meant to lift you up, I am saying life stinks. But really, does it? It doesn't have to.

Have you ever had that moment where you sat back, looked at everything you do, and you realized all those little things that you do wrong each and every single day? And then you thought, I'm a failure; I can't even stop messing this up. I've felt that way. In fact, lately, I've been looking back on days, and I can feel the tension in my mind rise as I sit and tell myself how ridiculous and incapable I am. But how do you stop that? 

As you sit in church, you're constantly told, 'you won't be fully forgiven until you can forgive yourself,' but how do you reach that point where you can tell yourself, you know what? You're not bad. You're doing your best and you'll get it--just keep working at it with a positive attitude.?. 

Well, I don't know any one answer to help you out, but I have an idea. Study the Atonement of Christ. This last year in seminary, that was what stuck out to me the most. I was able to connect everything we talked about to the Atonement and I realized all that it covered and more of what it meant on a deeper personal level. 

You know what? You're not alone in this life. Problems will come. Bills will flood your home, college loans may come to bite you in the back end, you may be stressing about a test you took which would highly affect your future that you failed, your parents may be having a divorce, you may be out on the streets...whatever the causes of your stress may be, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

Think about it. You have parents, neighbors, friends, siblings, extended family, teachers, pastors, bishops, leaders, JESUS CHRIST....need I say more? If you think no one is there beside you, think of all the wonderful things in your life. Why do you think you have those? Fairies didn't just come--those were blessings poured out to you. Think of the hard times as being at the gym. Would you be strong if you never lifted a finger, never took steps to walk or run, or even jumped off the ground? No. So, what about your trials? Can you grow and understand blessings and good times if you never experience those? No! Trials are here for a purpose. Sure, Satan does things to drag you down and if you let him, you'll lose. But God never loses. And He is merciful and will always be there to help you if you are willing to take the steps of repentance and work it out with Him. 

The Atonement is a wonderful thing. It's not just about Christ dying. He bled for every one of my sins. He bled for every one of your sorrows. He felt the pain and anguish of those you may despise and hate. And you know what? He believes it's worth it for each and every person He did that for. He felt every single thing you have ever felt in your life. Ponder that for a moment. He felt your joys, your sorrows, your physical and mental pains. When you have done something terribly wrong, He knows how you feel about it.

But wait! It doesn't stop there. Because He knows all those things about you from the Atonement, He is able to help and lift us when we struggle. We will never be given any trial we cannot handle--it's been promised. But when you are at your breaking point, the best place to fall is on your knees in prayer. No matter how dirty your hands may be, no matter how lost you may seem, if you have faith in His power and His love for you, He is there to listen. God's not gonna make fun of you if you ask. 

I have so much I could say about the Atonement, but at the moment, time does not permit more. I love the topic and I love learning something new about it, which, I do, each time I open the scriptures or listen to the voices of the prophets. I love this gospel and I love my Savior and Redeemer. I love my Father in Heaven and am grateful to them each and every day for all they teach me. We are truly blessed.

I challenge you to study the Atonement. If you are a little shaky on its precepts, talk to someone who may know (i.e. bishop, stake pres., y/m & y/w leaders, or ask the missionaries--they can help!!) I know these things to be true without a shadow of a doubt and I know that you are of great worth--so great that you cannot even begin to imagine the worth of your soul. Christ knows. Take His invitation and "Come, follow me." He will guide you where you should go and His Atonement is there for anyone who will partake. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

#MakingTheBestOutOfLife #Failure #Capability #Forgiveness #Atonement #Seminary #JesusChrist #Savior #Trials #Prayer #Faith #Scriptures #Prophets #Redeemer #Missionaries #Worth