How I learn and grow through my trials.

I really liked this week how we learned about our trials and how we learn from them and draw closer to God through them.
I also learned a new tool that will hopefully help me draw closer to my Savior and be more like him. I'd like to address these two things this week.

First, how can trials and afflictions help refine me and help me be faithful to the Lord?

In the scriptures we read how the Lord chastens those whom he loves. So why do we always feel so picked on when we are called to go through tribulations? Here are some things I have learned from my trials and why I should rejoice when I have difficult things to face and go through!
My trials have helped me realize that I cannot handle life on my own, I am not meant to. Our trials help us rely on the Lord. It is through my trials that I have come to know the Lord and know that He is real and answers my prayers. I've learned to lean on Him and trust Him. I have also learned to be more obedient through the chastening I have received. I don't like certain feelings I get when I disobey and thus I try to avoid those situations and try hard to obey and have those feelings of peace in my life. Sometimes I wonder if the length of my afflictions would be shorter had I seen the Lords hand more during them and allowed Him to teach me what I needed to know more quickly?
So as much as I do not want to go through hard things, it is those hard things that have made me more faithful and dedicated to the Lord.

Next, There are some things we learn from the children of Israel that can help us in our day. I feel like the message the Lord would give to modern Israel would be to notice His hand more in our lives. He is in the details of our lives and we must recognize that in order to see the many blessings. He would ask us to follow the prophet, Thomas S. Monson. Prophets throughout time have led their people to safety and it is not different in our day. If we obey the Lords commandments we will have good, blessed lives of happiness.

So this week my daughter came home from her mission in Mexico! What a wonderful thing it is to have her back home! As the Stake President was releasing her he mentioned something that will really help me in becoming more like Christ. He asked her how the temple blesses people? After mentioning several things, the Stake President added this extra thing...He said that in the temple we promise God to do things. We make sacred covenants. He went on to say that in our prayers we often say, "Please help me to be kind." etc... what would be better is if we simply said, "I promise that I will be kind to my family." I am trying that technique in my prayers and hoping that I am more aware of the seriousness of my commitment and promises to the Lord. It has already made me feel different! I am promising to be kind and I only make promises when I mean it!