But information surfaced that amenities of the package wasn’t all clear to me until more study and finding out that I would need to pay for more rental diving gear or purchase my own before the trip.

After weighing the pros and cons, it was no longer worth stressing over something that would bring a week’s worth of fun and relaxation, to months of financial concern.

When I let go of this dream for the time being, as there are vacation deals happening every month, I felt peace and more prepared for future surprises that required more of my mindfulness and prayers that couldn’t be distracted by planning a vacation in a foreign country and unknown financial costs and possible risks to health and body.

These surprises have caused me to draw upon the powers of Heaven more than ever before, and exercise more faith in Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ to carry these burdens that I cannot bear all on my own. I have received comfort and a knowledge that I am not alone and reassurance that the Lord is aware of my suffering and is working along with me to lift my burdens and the burdens of others.

And yes, Satan is working very hard to keep me down, weary, cheated, anxious and worried during relief. As my influence can have powerful results that would thwart his plan in destroying the future work of the Lord.

So I pray, calling all Angels to help
fortify me and my family from his evil grasps. They have come bringing comfort when most needed and I can see the “motions of heavenly law and power” “working together” for our good.

Your reminder email has come at a timely manner. Thank you very much.

Cheri

Of course Satan wants us to feel weary and cheated during challenges and anxious or worried during relief.

I love how you described the power of gratitude–that it puts in motion heavenly law and power. All things work together for our good when we love God–and trust Him in good times and bad.

Blessings,
Wally

Blessings!
Wally

After reading your post, I am wondering if expressing gratitude, even in trials, does not put in motion heavenly laws and blessings that we could not enjoy otherwise. Just as exercising can give us physical strength and capabilities we would not have if we just sat on the couch all day — capabilities which greatly bless our lives on many levels — perhaps expressing gratitude opens up spiritual blessings, insights, etc … that before we do it we can not even imagine. I think we often deny ourselves of blessings that Heavenly Father has made readily available to us, but we, for whatever reasons, are comfortable where we are. The kind of fundamental change the Lord is advocating is not always easy.

I would like to hear more about how the natural reactions we have, such as disappointment and frustration, fit in with expressing gratitude and this whole process of seeing God’s purposes. I don’t think Heavenly Father expects us to deny those feelings. Indeed, I think acknowledging those feelings is part of the teaching process. (Ah, an idea for your next book?) Warmly, Claudia

This brought back feelings of the loss of my 15 1/2 year old son 6 years ago. When I told my Med DR. I’ve been wanting to call him several times before our next appt. He got me in ASAP with a Counselor I knew.

Since the Med Dr. has been seeing me since my son’s death, he knows how I’ve been healing. So when I said that to him, he could tell by my countenance I was not doing well. So I was scheduled to see the Counselor for the next 2 days that week.

The counselor is LDS and was a great help as he started me weeping again. I guess I had some unfinished business of grieving and fortunately I had the 8 sessions free through my insurance plan.

He brought in my husband later, and we did a refresher course on what we had learned from this man 20 odd years ago on marriage and family counseling.

Fortunately, this wonderful man, had to leave for a mission in Brazil to help the missionaries there, etc. I was weeping during our last day and he would ask why I was, and I couldn’t name it, then it came out that I was going to miss him very much.

I never can understand if this is clinical depression or just something hitting me. All I know is the DR got me to open up my feelings that I’ve been holding back. And so now I can’t stop weeping.

My appt with my Med Dr. was delayed yesterday, and I was asked by the receptionist who knows me well, how I was doing. I told her that I can’t stop weeping, and she blamed it on my counselor leaving. We laughed and made a new appt. with my Med Dr. as I think it could be my meds. I can’t tell anymore.

I have been working on positive feelings and thoughts for the future, including a vacation since DH and I haven’t had one for 10 years together. One that includes scuba diving and other fun stuff at a perfect resort with everything you could want for scuba diving, rest, entertainment.

I was concerned about the money. We are not staying at a 4 star hotel, but bungalows, with minimal ammenities. Phones, internet and tv are all in the rec. center. I was sure DH wouldn’t want to go due to lack of TV, internet and phone system in the room.

But he said, “Isn’t that what vacations are for, is to get away from that stuff.” Anyway, we got the news of a windfall or a very high line of credit through our business accounts. So money is available to pay off high percent business credit cards. Build a big shop on our now commercial property and the percentage rate is at 5.0% interest.

This will relieve a lot of stress. This commercial property use to be my son’s first home. During the last 1 1/2 years we have been taking care of my brother suffering from Leukemia and his family by living in this home rent free. He is cured of the Leukemia thanks to LDS hospital in SLC. But now has crumbling hip bones due to side affects of treatment.

I guess I’m saying is that the Lord does bless us in His own timing and your posting of scriptures from D&C and the Bible are so comforting. Thank you for writing this and I’m sorry about all the miscarriages your wife has had. Those are very discouraging events. Must have been so hard for your wife as it was for you. But I think the woman carries more of the heartache and physical effects on her body.

-Wally

Romans 5:3-5 – “…but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And Patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Perhaps this is the gospel process in a nutshell.