Having Faith In Jesus Christ

When things start to get hard or difficult in life we often want to give up.  Sometimes it just seems easier to just give in and fail.  This can be the case in many things such as school, learning a new skill, and in marriage.  One thing that can make a world of difference when it comes to hard and trying times is faith.  “Having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can transform our imperfect relationships into purposeful growth and soul-filling companionships.  It is the foundation on which strong relationships are built.” (Goddard, Drawing Heaven into your Marriage). 

                Wallace Goddard said told of a story of his grandmother who was a single mother and put everything she had into taking care of her children.   She looked forward to her pay day when she would be able to have time to read and sew.  When it she went blind.  Instead of going bitter and wondering “why me?” she endured faithfully and cheerfully because she trusted in God and had faith that he would turn her experience into blessings.  This woman had great faith and I’m sure that she got her reward.

                I haven’t had too many trials in my life that I would call big or near Goddards Grandmother (knock on wood).  But I believe all trials whether small or big requires us to have faith in order to make it through.   I know the trials I have had or the problems that my husband and I might have had have been better because we have had faith.  I have faith that my marriage can be happy and that my husband and I can work our any problems that come our way, as long as we have faith and center our lives around Christ. 

President Hunter said “If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel , nothing can go permanently wrong.  On the other hand if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.” This was my former bishop and institute teacher’s and his wife’s motto.  She endured 3 years of cancer and passed away this last December.  She was very young and still had children at home.  Instead of being bitter she saw this as a blessing.  Instead of asking “why me?” she asked “why not me?” she knew where she was going and she knew she would be with her family again, whereas many don’t have this view in life.  She had faith that her trial would bring her great blessings and she would be with her family again.  In the years I have known her and her family my faith has grown because of her and her example.  She was a great woman and I am sure she is doing great things in Heaven. 

                It’s important to remember that just because we have faith things will go the way we want.  “Having faith does not make everything easy.  Rather faith makes life and it’s challenges both bearable and meaning-filled.”(Goddard, Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage, pg. 67)