Sister Ann Elgaaen in Houston, Texas South: March 23, 2020 The Necessesity of Getting Knocked Down

During this life, we experience many trials and challenges. A common question is WHY? Why would a loving heavenly father let his beloved children experience hardships?

It seems like every time our feet finally hit the ground we are constantly being knocked back down.

But Heavenly Father has a plan for each and everyone of us.

So, when our faces are pushed into the ground, we might possibly taste of the dust where the savior's feet have stepped. As we desperately grasp for something to pick us up, our hands might feel of the nails that pierced his precious skin. As we breathe in the air around us, we might smell the blood he spilt. When restless for relief, we may drink the tears he shed for us, and when darkness closes in, we might see the light he is holding up.

When we are down, that is where the evidence of the saviors perfect love and infinite atonement is most prominent.

So as we are mocked, shut down, yelled at, threatened, criticized, judged, abused and broken; when our face is once again pressed deep into the path, instead of our feet happily prancing along the way, recognize the evidence of god's love!

There is no step we will take that the savior hasn't already taken, so don't try to walk the path alone. Let him walk beside you, and when you don't have the strength to stand back up, call out to him! He will make up for all that you lack! He will pick you up and help you begin down the path once again.

In Jacob 1:8 it states, "but that all men would believe in christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world."

It is guaranteed that we will walk at least a small portion of where the Savior walked, and as we do so, we are bound to suffer at least part of what the Savior suffered, and bear a fragment of his cross.

And when you finally reach the end, that is where YOUR father is waiting to pull you into his arms! An embrace so tight that he will fix all your broken pieces! God loves you perfectly! He lets us experience trials and challenges, because that is part of the path we must walk to return to his loving arms. The amazing thing is that we don't have to do it alone! God will give you no trial too difficult for you to overcome.

Forgive quickly, love unconditionally, pray fervently, seek diligently. The savior will support you every step of the way, if you let him!

I love you all so much!!