"Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things..." Alma 32:21

Today, I am pondering faith a bit. "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; ...if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). Some things are true that I cannot see with my physical eyes. I can't see the wind, but there is evidence of the wind. I see the evidence of the wind as it blows  leaves off of trees and at times, gently caresses my skin and ruffles my hair.

As I have pondered things that are true, but I can't see, I have also thought about learning. I have to ask myself, am I willing to learn all that God wants me to learn, even when I can't see the end from the beginning? What about from all sources? Am I willing to learn His ways through enduring all things? Am I willing to "...seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118).

This leads me to ponder about being humble and teachable. I ask, how humble am I, really? "...for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might [be in]" (Alma 32:25). And there are some who, no matter what their circumstances, no matter their suffering, they want a sign, saying: "If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe" (Alma 32:18). But, receiving a "sign" requires no faith. On the other hand, "ye shall receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). In other words, faith proceeds the miracle. I continue to work on this.

Some days can be so difficult that thoughts of quitting tease and taunt me. But I don't quit. And I don't give up. I keep believing and having faith in a loving God (see 1 John 4:16; Ephesians 2:4), who is "merciful unto all who believe on His name" (Alma 32:22). I believe and have faith that there is something more to this life than enduring pain or seeing others suffer (see Luke 12:23). In those times of pain and suffering that don't make sense it is through faith that I can say as Nephi: "I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). I know in the long run, things always work out...perhaps not as I thought they would, but they always work out.

Am I humble enough to trust God, to have faith in His plan? Especially when things aren't going according to my plan. God's plan is one of happiness (see Alma 42:8). It is one of great joy! His plan is one of choice, we get to choose and receive what our hearts truly desire (see 2 Nephi 2:27-30). Perhaps some do not desire to be like God, "pure even as He is pure". And that is what some people choose. "Remember that [we] are free to act for [ourselves] -to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life" (2 Nephi 2:23). We can choose to put our faith in Jesus Christ, our Creator and our Savior. We can choose to have faith that He knows exactly what we need to learn, and what we need to endure so that we be prepared for that "great and coming day" (3 Nephi 28:31).

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Having faith, for me, is to put my trust in the God that I see in His creations all around me. To trust Him enough to never quit, never give up, no matter how hard or how painful it may be. This I testify.

I see God in all the amazing creations I get to enjoy on a daily basis

His love is even shown in the details of every flower. Look at those peppers! What beauty and creativity!

I see Him in all He creates for my joy and comfort.

"[God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45)

We had a power outage this past weekend that lasted for about 6-7 hours. It had started to bring back memories of the year we had no power for 3 days. You need to know something about me. I get a little edgy when I am cold. A little edgy when I am tired. A touch off when I am hungry. A touch out of sorts when I have an infection. If you throw all of those together...well, let me just say, in the nicest way possible, that all heck breaks loose and it is better to not be around me when they all come together. My family knows that they need to stay out of my way. So, this past weekend, when it was getting closer to the 5 hour mark with no power and it was getting dark outside and the temperatures were dropping, I was really trying to hold it together...I hope the Lord sees fit to take me when "The Big One" comes, I am not much of a "pioneer" without my modern conveniences, such as food, heat, light, medicine, a warm bed, did I mention food?

Sometimes, things just go wrong and for no apparent reason. The power goes out on the best of us, and we are cold, hungry, tired, and we have an infection all at the same time. Things could definitely be worse (I have experienced way worse and I try to accept what I am given and be grateful...note the try, it doesn't mean that I am happy about it, or that it is easy). One of the conclusions that I have come to when bad things happen to good people (which happens all the time), is that "[God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45). Power outages, unfortunately, don't skip homes that are paying tithing, or even paying their electrical bills. They happen to whomever happens to be on that grid. Power outages happen to the best of us. They make life inconvenient, change our routine, test our patience, make us slow down, sometimes they make us questions why things have to happen to us, sometimes they may even make us question our faith. These are not necessarily bad things.

Another conclusion I have come to about bad things happening to good people is that unbeknownst  to us, these trials, or power outages, can actually be strength building opportunities for us. The Lord has said, "I will try the faith of my people" (3 Nephi 26:11) and taught through His prophets "...ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). Sometimes, as I am riding my bike up a long, steep hill I have to look down rather than up. This is the proper placement for my head. The hill looks flatter, I am able to focus on each stroke as I pedal, and I slowly, oh so slowly, make my way to the top. It is with my head down, humbled in prayer that is in the proper position that makes all the difference, when I need help in my deepest, and darkest hours of my "power outages". Elder Henry B. Eyring said, "Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakable faith" (Mountains to Climb).



Life isn't always filled with lights and without its storms. I sometimes wish it were. But then I look back at all the growth that has come form all that hard work, diligence, and perseverance of pedaling up those long, steep hills and you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. I to add my voice with the prophet Nephi and say, "I know that [Christ] loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). Things work out, if not in this life, then in the next. We are loved beyond measure and we are not left alone in the dark. This I testify.

The day after the storm...and after the power outage. The sun always comes out after the  storm.

Note how the branch is hanging down from the weight of the snow, this is several hours after the storm has ended.

The mountains from our home. I am standing in our driveway. We received at least a foot or more of snow, and the mountains received 48" or more!