Faith

Last night, we had the missionaries over for dinner. After the meal, they shared a lesson with us on faith. Elder Peterson pulled out a huge rat trap and showed us how it worked by touching the trigger with a pencil. Of course, the pencil not only snapped in half, but splintered into many little shards. He went on to ask us, "What is faith?" Our response was typical - hope in things which aren't seen. He then asked me if I had faith in him as a missionary. I said yes. He then asked me to touch the trigger of the rat trap with my finger. I figured there was some trick to the question, so I reached forth my finger. I was slightly hesitant to actually touch the trigger - I thought it would be a 'Abraham and Isaac' type lesson and he would stop me just before I touched. Not the case. I touched the trigger and the spring launched, however the trap didn't close on my finger. While we weren't looking, he had adjusted the trap in such a way that my finger wouldn't get caught.

He then asked, "Has Heavenly Father ever asked you to do anything hard? Scary? Challenging? Confusing?" Immediately, and almost in unison, Doug and I replied, "Yes! Of course He has!"

This has gotten me thinking about the experiences Doug and I have had in regards to faith.

In January of 2009, I had been at the temple and I felt inspired that Doug and I needed to start our family. We weren't planning on having kids yet, but I felt and urgent need to start. We had gotten pregnant right away and were a little nervous about the whole ordeal - we didn't have much time to let the idea sink in. In April, at 12 weeks, I miscarried our sweet little baby. This truly was the biggest trial I have faced so far in my life, however I had peace. Peace because I knew that I had followed the Lord. Things didn't turn out the way I had wanted or expected, however I knew and still know that the Lord has a special plan for me and my family.

In December 2009, Doug and I were having some struggles and we were trying to turn to the Lord for answers and guidance to ease ourselves of the burdens that were slowly drowning us. I had gone to the temple and had the strong impression that Doug was to take a semester off of school. I was perplexed - how would this help? I thought, if Doug takes a break from school, he'll probably never go back and he would have to work as a labourer the rest of his life! Is that what he wants? Is that what I want? This doesn't make any sense! Well, I felt what I had felt, and I went home to talk to Doug about it. Lets just say, he was not pleased with the thought. We was not going to take a break from school - come hell or high water. After about a month of us bickering back and forth about the subject, Doug decided to truly fast and pray about the situation. The Lord whispered to Him softly, 'Take a break from school. I love you and everything will work out the way it should'.

That was that. Doug did not return to classes in the new year. Instead, he worked full time as a laborer at Agropur, and trust me, the blessing truly began to flow. Doug and I were able to work hard and focus on the burdens that were holding us back. We were able to free ourselves from some of the bonds by which we were bound. Doug was offered any job he wanted at Agropur - ANY job he wanted!! He started on-line classes in the fall to become a lab technician and will start his permanent, full-time position at Agropur in April.

We have been so blessed by our choices to follow the Lord. Even though they were scary and confusing, we believed the Lord knew what was best for us, and surely He did. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and how He leads and guides not only my life, but my husbands as well. I am so glad I have found the Lord, for I know He was always looking for me. The Gospel is the best part of this world, no matter what anyone else says. I exhort you all to exercise faith, follow the Lord and trust that He will never, ever let you down. He is the only one we can truly rely for anything and everything. He is my best friend and I love Him.