Our Struggles

In the last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about the struggles in my life and in others. I often think about the line in Legacy when the main character asks, "Is he truly aware of us." referring to Heavenly Father. I think in life that we wonder if we are in our struggles alone. If we find our selves in the pit spoke of by Joseph Smith.

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 122
The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3: 300–301.
1–4, The ends of the earth shall inquire after the name of Joseph Smith; 5–7, All his perils and travails shall give him experience and be for his good; 8–9, The Son of Man hath descended below them all.
1 The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;
2 While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.
3 And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.
4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

I have always had a hard time with the "shall be for thy good." When you are in the middle of what ever problem you can never see the good for you part. I have even been though a problem and not know what part of it was good for me. I forget that sometimes it is months, years or maybe even decades before I see the "good" of my struggle. I have wondered if the "good" of my struggles were not to help me, but maybe my kids when they are older. Maybe the struggles we had with the birth of the twins will help my daughters someday. I will never forget not wanting to touch Piper in the NICU because I felt so guilty that my body had let her down and she was now having problems breathing. I hope that my childern will never have to know that pain, but if they do I will understand better then they know. I guess all we can do in the end is remember, "for God shall be with you forever and ever." D&C 122:9