How Jacob 5 Helped Me Cope with Sickness and Grief

Trees in field

Jacob 5 isn’t just a story about some olive trees and a few blue-collar workers; it’s a testament that Christ loves each one of us and that he, the Lord of all, rejoices and weeps with us through our mortal experience. In October 2018, I was diagnosed with a lifelong… Continue reading

You Can Find Peace amid Mental Health Trials

Man sitting at a table covering his face with his hand

God cares about our mental health, and he hopes that through these trials we will choose to lean on him and trust in his healing process. Facing unrelenting fear can be destructive. When I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, I experienced days where I couldn’t function emotionally or physically.… Continue reading

Turning Trials into Opportunities

an image of a group of white flowers growing out of a pile of rocks

We cannot learn by study alone. We must also learn through experience and action. Chronic illness. Natural disasters. Premature death. Many trials surface in our lives, often seeming random, with no one to blame for their appearance. It’s easy to ask, “Why? Why do good people suffer such hardships?” In… Continue reading

When It Doesn’t Get Easier

an image of a woman looking out a window on a train

When the unrelenting trials in my life were threatening to tear me down, I was reminded by a general conference talk that “hard is good.” By the time the weekend of the October 2017 general conference arrived, I was completely overwhelmed. I felt like I had thirty-five hours of work… Continue reading

I Shall Come Forth as Gold

an image of a tall building with a triangular roof and a sky background

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we can rise from our trials to become stronger and more capable. The fire was roaring, engulfing not only the plane and its passengers but also the life that Stephanie Nielson once knew. Whether or not our trials arrive in the form of… Continue reading

Burdens Are Blessings

an image of a red truck parked on the side of a road

Do you feel held back or weighed down by your burdens? They might actually be propelling you forward. When I think of the word burden, I imagine a man carrying a giant boulder on his back. He is exhausted and struggles to move forward. I’ve always viewed burdens as things… Continue reading

Getting Back on the Horse: Overcoming Life’s Setbacks

an image of a group of horses standing in a field

When we encounter the unexpected, it’s important to remember God’s plan. When Cambry Kaylor was eighteen, she had the world ahead of her. As an equestrian vaulter, she performed gymnastics on horseback—and she was good at it. So good that she was on track to become an international competitor. One… Continue reading

Learning Empathy through Our Trials: Christ Sets The Example

an image of a man with a backpack looking at a mountain

Through our suffering, we learn to have Christlike empathy for others. If God loves us, why do we suffer? Most of us have had to face this question, and modern revelation provides sound, intellectual answers. But when we’re struggling through trials, sometimes the intellectual answer isn’t enough to carry our… Continue reading

Facing Tragedy with the Blessings of the Gospel

an image of a field of lit up lanterns in the dark

How can we find peace in the moments of greatest tragedy? When a lone gunman opened fire on February 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he caused grief and heartache for many families. Among those personally affected by this tragedy are Madeleine “Maddy” Wilford, who was shot but… Continue reading

The Whys of Suffering

Why does an all-powerful God allow his children to suffer? If we are God’s children and he is a loving and perfect God, why does he allow suffering? This question has perplexed and troubled many people for years, and it’s truly difficult to come to terms with the immense suffering… Continue reading