Working. Waiting. Willing.

The Lord brings us low so he can lift us high.

There has been huge trials in my life lately, mostly with patience. After receiving an answer to my prayers lately and trying to follow it out I've been blessed with trials. I'm slowly becoming humbled. You might think it's funny that I say "blessed with trials" but let me explain.

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you just simply asked for something and received it without out working for it? Isn't this the same principle of stealing? It's not just a law on earth to work for what we need, it comes from God. After receiving answers to prayers we need to work, or act upon our answers. A couple deciding to get married doesn't just decide to get married and that's the end of their happy lives. Although at times watching "Cinderella" and "The Little Mermaid" I thought that happily ever after meant just that. No. Since when did "work" become just a bad word anyway? We can have fun working. We can have building each other up and helping and serving each other all the while doing it.

I am grateful for this waiting period in my life right now because the Lord is blessing me an opportunity to keep studying out the decision in my mind, preparing, and a time for repentance. The Lord gives us a waiting period in life or a "work" period in life so we can be even more grateful when the blessing(s) come! It may be going to the temple together with your fiance after a long engagement, wedding preparation period. It may be that new missionary checking the mail and finding their call in the mailbox after a month of reopening their mailbox. It may even be that moment that a new mother screams "my water broke!" after a 9 month period of swelling feet or restless sleep nights.

Whatever the situation in life the Lord prepares us. Or at least gives us the time to prepare ourselves. The feeling with each of these situations we become even more grateful when we are able to look back at the "HARDEST TIMES" and think to ourselves, "Well. That wasn't so bad!"

Life may be hard right now but the waiting period is worth it. The preparation period is worth it. There is a scripture in Alma that reads "Go forth... yet ye shall be patient in long suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good example unto them in me." We must be examples of Christ during times of affliction or during our "waiting periods" of life. Then finally when that time comes where our pride is humbled, when we've laid down our guards, the lord will say "well done". There is no greater feeling than to know you could have done all that you could.

The Lord will bless us when we least expect it but we have to be willing to work during the waiting period and willing to come unto Him in the end.