Stray thoughts

"For I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day". - Alma 36:3

It can be cold comfort knowing that things will get better "eventually". It's not always uplifting to know that if we just get past this trial we'll be rewarded in the end. We have a lot of training, so to speak, in society about powering through something bad to get to the something good. I think this doesn't help us when we're in the middle of a trial- when we're focused on "getting through" our hearts and minds are not tuned in to what is happening right now, because we're so focused on getting past what we're suffering through.

In addiction recovery we're taught to focus on one day at a time - or one hour, depending on what our struggles are. I believe the Lord would have us adopt this thinking as well; don't just keep our eyes on the end, on the so-called "prize". Work toward the eternity we want, but also take it one day at a time. And by so doing, notice what we have in front of us. Find ways to enjoy the beauty that the world has to offer, and rejoice in the things that uplift us. That is the spiritual preparation that is rewarded at the last day; that is how we endure to the end: not just in the getting past but in the going through.