Finding Joy

We hear it all the time now, times are rough.  With the economy among other things people are more scared and worried than ever before.  We all go through things that are rough and hard.  Some days worse than others and then the next moment you may seem fine.  To combat these things I have been trying to change my attitude so that when facing those I can remember that there is always hope and we can still be optimistic and happy even in hard and rough times. 

One of the ways I have found to combat it is to look up little quotes every day from Apostles or Prophets.  They have been great and although I find ones that I like that help me I have found that they have been helping others and that makes me feel good.  I have been trying to post them on Facebook knowing that many people are on there.  I don't know if they will affect anyone but if anything I am learning and seeing more and plus for those of my friends who might see it who are not members of the Church, maybe it will make them think.

One I found today was this:

“There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: 'The best is yet to be' ("Rabbi Ben Ezra," in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909–10], 42:1103).”

L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It with Simplicity", Ensign, Nov. 2008, 7

And another I loved that I found this week was this (I really really love this one!)

"The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, ... See Morethe greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008 

I am fortunate enough to have always felt the love of the Lord and Heavenly Father in my life.  Through family, friends, the Gospel, even small things like my car running and having a job--they are things that help me to remember He is always there.  Even then I still like to have more reminders and these little quotes help.  :)

Hopefully if anyone reads this they feel the same way.  It is true, life is hard and can be so rough.  But we will all make it through so long as we remember Him and his sacrifice.  Remember those things you are going through, the pain and the joy you feel--he also felt that.  He knows.  That I am truly grateful for.  I love you all and hope that if you are going through anything hard at this moment that you will remember you are loved and blessed. 

Just another one to leave you with from one of my favorite talks:

“Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, ‘I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].’ ”

Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him,” Ensign, May 2009