Lessons to be Learned.

Trying to escape Florida's infamous storms

          In Mark 6, Christ teaches us an important lesson about the trials we face in mortality. He had left his apostles to go pray and when He came back, He found them stuck in a storm, struggling for their lives. It’s recorded that He waited until the “fourth watch of the night”, about 3 AM, to help them. He sat and watched them, not because He wanted them to struggle, but because there was a lesson that needed to be learned.

One night on the mission, I was talking to our senior couple, the Vans, about trials. Elder Van asked, “Isn’t it a wonder how 1/3 of God’s children didn’t choose this? And now we have to deal with all this crap.” It sure is crap, but that’s what we signed up for. WE ASKED FOR THIS - for all the storms and trials and garbage in our lives - and we’re probably all wondering why, but we knew where it would take us, what we would learn from it. Heavenly Father knows that, Christ knows it, we just need to remember.

I can see Christ sitting up there, watching us. I know He often mutters under his breath, “Seriously, Chelsea? You’re a mess, get yourself together! Be patient, turn to me. It’s almost over - you’re fine.” I’m sure He said the same thing about His disciples as He sat watching them. 

Mark goes on - Christ did eventually come, not when the disciples wanted, but He came when the time was right, in the fourth watch. He knew that the longer the trial ensued, the quicker they’d turn to Him. So He miraculously approaches them walking on the water, and thanks to Peter, we learn one of the most important lessons regarding our relationship with Christ. I’m sure each apostle looked back and realized that it was worth going through 10 storms of that magnitude just to experience such great events. There was a lesson to be learned. 

My anxiety and depression has been off the charts this week and I was given a priesthood blessing in which I was promised, “There’s an end in sight - you just have to learn the lesson that’s meant to be learned.” So great, the storm ain’t stoppin’. Awesome. But there’s an end. It’s just coming in the fourth watch of the night.

           Despite the storm that’s still ensuing, I’m finally at a point where I can notice the good moments and see the lessons I’ve learned from all my struggles. There’s some that came forcefully, while others were just expanded upon, but I’m grateful for each and every one and for each and every sleepless, tearful night that brought me here. 

Lessons learned:

-It’s okay to rely on others sometimes, it’s okay to collapse and be taken care of

-It’s okay to see doctors and be on meds, I’m not any less because of it

Orlando, Florida temple 
withstanding a storm

-Life’s awful

-God often comforts us using others

-Moms are the best and there are specific reasons why I was sent to Julie Carr 

-God’s plan is totally different from my own

-Trust God’s will, even if I don’t understand - be naive

-Trust the Spirit, my mind’s constantly lying to me, but the Spirit will always tell me what’s really going on

-I have no right to ever be mad at God, I have NO IDEA what He has up His sleeve

-You never know what’s going on in other’s lives

-Pain hurts, but that’s all it does, it’s no threat

-I am not my body

-“We are infinitely more than our limitations or our afflictions!” -Jeffrey R. Holland

-The Atonement covers literally everything
-There's very real protection that comes from the temple.

-God knows I’m there

-Certain people are put in my life for a reason, family is essential in any healing process

-GOD IS OH SO GOOD

-When there’s no one else, Christ is there

-Breathe and be patient

-Ice cream is amazing

-Life will eventually make sense and line up, and when it does, it’s beyond perfect

-Prayers and priesthood blessings help in the greatest and smallest of ways
-Believe in the miracles that surround you.