Though the Journey Seems Long..

    Have you ever doubted? Have you ever started on a journey (metaphorical or otherwise) full of confidence, full of excitement and joy, only to face obstacles in the path and begin to question your motives and your purpose? I think at one time or another we've all faced doubt. We all set out full of hope for a bright future, only to be stopped half way wondering what in the world we're doing and wondering why Heavenly Father would place us in such a situation, maybe because we are needed there, more than where we thought we should be.
    I know I have often wondered what in the world Heavenly Father has planned, because at the moment, I'm just not seeing it. Why he would place me unmarried in a family ward where no one is quite sure what to do with me and where the dear sweet old ladies want to know why I'm not married yet...I wish I knew, but I do know, there is a purpose. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan and that He keeps his promises, I remember reading the account of Abraham and Sarah trusting in God. As Hebrews puts it " By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised". Do we trust God that same way, do we trust that He desires our happiness? I know that many dark nights come our way and that sometimes moments of self pity wonder how Heavenly Father is working in our lives. When those moments come, recognize they come from a being who desires our misery and wants us to be dark and lonely. We have the power to cast the adversary aside and find peace and hope once more, if we will but have Confidence in our Savior and trust the plan, the plan of growth and learning.
   Elder Holland tells the story of Moses being visited by Satan after Heavenly Father showed him the universe and sets up a premise we must all understand if we are to thrive in this life. Satan comes before moments of illumination as well as visiting after ward to distract us from the divine truths we learned. Hold tight to the promises Heavenly Father gives and hold tight to the peace the Spirit brings, for Satan cannot! duplicate it, trust to the peace and hope of a bright tomorrow. Too often doubts pull us away from the path which leads to rich reward simply because we do not see the miracles preparing us for eternity. Please, oh please remember Heavenly Father remembers his promises, whether to an older couple past the age of bearing children, or to a young woman longing for promised marriage, who isn't done yet.

Here are some further thoughts from Elder Holland if you have time to stick around and learn more. Happy reading.


Satan departed hence,” ⁴ always to come again, we can be sure, but always to be defeated by the God of glory—always.

  but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness.


 there may come after the fact some competing doubts and confusion, but it will pale when you measure it against the real thing. Remember the real thing. Remember how urgently you have needed help in earlier times and you got it. The Red Sea will open to the honest seeker of revelation

 with real intent.” ⁷ If you can seek that way and stay in that mode, not much that the adversary can counter with will dissuade you from a righteous path. You can hang on, whatever the assault and affliction, because you have paid the price for real conviction.

Go forward, not backward!

  If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it.

 “Fear ye not.” And when the second and third and fourth blows come, “fear ye not. … The Lord shall fight for you.” ¹⁶ Cast not away therefore your confidence.