Trials and Enduring Them

Sister Makin gave a wonderful lesson about how we can endure our trials. She shared many stories and examples that she has collected along the way and they were to numerous to remember them all...but there was one in particular that has stuck with me this week.
I don't remember all of the details, but picture this...a man in on trial and Father in Heaven is the Judge. Satan steps up and says that he is going to prove that this man should be sent to Hell because of the crimes he's committed and the choices he's made. Satan wants Justice and the consequences must be served! Then the Savior stands up to plead his case. He says that he has already paid the price for this man and that justice should not be served, but Mercy. He tells the Judge that this man's sentence has been "Paid in full." We can liken this story to us by thinking of the many ways that Satan is against us and tries to tell us that we are not worthy of such help and that we must SUFFER for the choices we make. The Savior reminds us that HE SUFFERED so that we did not have to...but we have to seek His help and guidance and we are all worthy of that help and love.
These past few months my family has gone through some trials (like everybody else) that has me saying to myself..."why us? When will this be over?" I just finished a book by Anita Stansfield called "Reflections" in which she writes about her life and experiences. She talked about a particular time in her life where one thing after another kept going wrong...but it was leading her to the part that give her the blessing. She said that she witnessed first hand that the miracle really does happen AFTER the trial of our faith. This and Sister Makin's lesson have brought strength, comfort and peace to my heart this week and I grateful to these two sisters for that. It doesn't stop the trials from happening but it gives me hope that there are great things to come for my family.