Trust in the Lord

Midterms were the worst.  I always felt like they were worse than finals because school continued after they ended.  After a really long week of midterms (tests, projects, presentations, little sleep, long hours in the drafting lab, and stress), I was glad it was Friday.  I walked into my dorm to meet my roommates heading out for a fun evening.  On their way, they mentioned that I had gotten a mark from the dorm mother.  My room was too messy, they told me.  They seemed a little too happy to tell me.  They left. 

I hurried into my room.  I had my laundry piled on my bed and projects, markers, and papers stacked on the desk.  I was so upset.  I couldn't believe I got a mark!  The irony of the whole thing was that I had privately asked the dorm mother to do random clean checks because my roommates were FILTHY.  I was starting to worry about what might be growing on their beds.   I got the mark! 

I had had a very hard week.  I missed my family.  I felt alone.  I wondered why I was here.  I wanted to cry.  I wanted my Dad.  He always knew how to ease my worries.  I went to the hallway and pulled out my calling card.  I punched the number to my parent's home into the phone.  It rang and rang.  There was no answer.  I really wanted to talk to my dad.  This was the first time in my life that I was feeling that there was no one for me to turn to.

A thought came to my mind that I have a Father in Heaven who is always there to listen.  It took the "opportunity" of me feeling alone and no answer at home for me to realize this in it's reality.  I went to my bedside and knelt down.  I prayed.  I told Him I was sad and all my feelings.  I felt at peace and knew that I was where I was supposed to be.

That experience strengthened me!  I learned that I needed to Trust In the Lord more often.

I recently felt impressed to have "Trust in the Lord" become our family theme.  We held a Family Home Evening and discussed how this knowledge can help us.  We talked about really simple problems to really big problems.  Problems with feelings, school, friends, testimony, sickness, and death.  Trusting in the Lord can help us with ANY and EVERY problem.  He knows what is wrong.  He knows how it will turn out.  He knows how to guide our hearts and thoughts.  He knows what will get us through.  He knows how much we can take and then adds His strength.  He knows the ideas we need to have.  He knows US.  He knows ME and He knows YOU.  He is all we need.

It seems, as my life has continued, that I have had more experiences that push me to trust in the Lord.  Times when no one else is who I need, no one else understands, no one else can give me the complete strength that is required.  I am learning.  The Lord is always there, always listens, always understands, always lifts and strengthens me.  Always.  I need to trust Him, more.