ANSWERS ALWAYS COME
Dear One-Year-Ago Ellie,
I know you are struggling right now. I know it seems like every possible thing that could go wrong is going wrong. I know it feels like Heavenly Father is not hearing your prayers, and that He is never going to give you the answers you are aching for. I know you are having trouble keeping faith. I know it feels like you are repeating an endless cycle of the same trial. I know this is hard.
I am here to tell you that a year later, things are the best they could possibly be. Heavenly Father answered our prayers, just like we were always told He would. I know it is hard to believe, but we are actually grateful for the trials you are going through right now, because it has truly shaped us into a different, better person. I want to thank you, for holding on when it was tough. For continuing to stand by the things you knew to be true, and knew would help you the most, even though it was the last thing you wanted to do. Our testimony has greatly increased because of your diligence. We are the happiest we have ever been, and it is because of all of the hard work you put in, and the wonderful plan the Lord had for us. Keep holding on, keep trusting in the Lord and turning to Him. I promise, it will get better.
Love, One-Year-Later Ellie
Isn’t it crazy how much can change in just three-hundred and sixty-five days? We can be a completely different person, in a completely different environment, and a completely different mindset, all in the space of one year. A year ago, things were rough in the life of Negative (N)ellie, and I was definitely living up to my namesake. It felt like four million trials were being hurled in my direction, and all I could bring up were strikes. Failure, after failure, after failure. I had so many questions running through my mind.
“Why is this happening to me?”
“What did I do to deserve these trials?”
“How can I possibly overcome this?”
“Is the Lord even hearing my prayers?”
“Will I ever receive the answers I am seeking?”
It felt as if I was constantly on my knees, begging for relief, aid, or answers to my big life decisions. Honestly, sometimes it truly felt like Heavenly Father wasn’t answering my questions. My faith was shaken, and it seemed that I would never get out of that hole. Through it all, I had my family, friends, my Savior, and my Heavenly Father to rely on during those difficult times, and for that I am forever grateful. Even in our greatest trials, the Lord always sends us immense blessings.
I feel like we all feel like Last-Year-Ellie sometimes. Overwhelmed, frustrated, confused, pained, and even a little lost. Life is rough sometimes. However, that is the great thing about life, it is only rough sometimes. There are also moments of incredible joy and happiness, and they often come right after the most trying times. Being the One-Year-Later Ellie, I am here to tell you that things do get better. Eventually, the trials come to an end, and making it through is one of the best feelings you could possibly imagine.
I am also here to tell you that Heavenly Father ALWAYS answers our prayers, even when it feels like He isn’t listening. Our loving Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need in our lives, and has an incredible plan for it that we cannot begin to fathom. Last year, there were times where I truly believed He was not ever going to answer my prayers, and it was making me feel pretty discouraged. Now I know that Last-Year-Ellie needed some growing in order to be prepared for those answers. I cannot tell you the immense joy I felt when those answers finally came, and going through all of that heartache made receiving them that much sweeter. I do not think that I would have valued the answers I received as much, or had as much confidence in them, had they just been given to me. Having to work for them, and ponder them, and struggle over them, helped me to realize they were the perfect answers for me when they finally came.
I cannot describe the feeling of love I felt for my Savior and Heavenly Father when those sweet answers came. First off, they had to deal with cranky Ellie all year long. I know those constant complaints, yelling, and crying, were not any fun to deal with. Yet, they still helped me all along the way. They gave me the strength and the courage to continue reading my scriptures, going to church, praying to them, and just trying again, even when those were the last things I wanted to do. I felt Their strength and Their love for me countless times last year, and continue to feel them today. Secondly, when those answers came, I realized how much my Savior and Heavenly Father know me, Ellie, personally. The Savior, being the only one who has been through what I have been through, knew I needed those difficult times. He and Heavenly Father knew I needed to grow, learn, develop my faith, and better my relationship with both of them, so that when the answers came, I would trust them. They truly have tailored my life just for me.
I have an incredible testimony of the Lord’s timing now. He is truly always listening to our prayers, and He always answers them, just not always when or in the way we want. We can always trust Him. I promise you, and know from personal experience, that the waiting will be worth it. If you are struggling right now, I feel ya. Life is hard sometimes, but it is also amazing sometimes. Hold on, trust in the Lord, and have faith that relief and answers will come. Maybe a year from now, you will be writing yourself your own letter.