Be the Rock the River Cannot Wash Away

Christmas was very difficult on my body. I had a hunch it might be throw me into a tailspin but I was not going to let the fear of having a flare keep me from enjoying my family during this wonderful time of year.

Although I tried extremely hard to eliminate a great deal of non-essential things this Christmas and really tried to focus on what really mattered, it still was too much for my physical body to handle. One of my doctors said to me a couple weeks ago that he was interested to see how my body would be able to handle Christmas. I quickly dismissed that thought and said to myself, "I will be fine, I am strong, I can handle this holiday….no problem." It's this very comment where I went wrong.
I was bound and determined to not flare and prove I had control over my own body. But once again I was humbled by the fact, when two days after Christmas, I began with one of the largest flare-ups I have had thus far.

I seem to search  the scriptures with even greater intensity during these flares. I have been studying a talk entitled," The Strength to Endure." I know I have quoted from it before, but each time I read it something else seems to stand out to me. I know that I have a great deal to learn from this trial and I must continually stay spiritually strong in order to gain the strength I need to endure it.

 I have learned first hand that if a day goes by and I forget to immerse myself in the scriptures, read from a conference talk, or even watch a uplifting video I find myself weak both physically and spiritually. I notice that Satan places thoughts of negativity and worthlessness into my head if I am not prepared spiritually for the day. I realized just how important it is to stay strong spiritually during our trials in order to endure them well.

While I was reading this same conference talk, this quote really stood out to me, "You must become the rock that the river cannot wash away." I know first hand that our trials can cause us to become weaker or  to become stronger. It is all in how we endure it. I know that when I try to stay spiritually strong and immovable that I am happier and better able to endure my pain and struggles. I know that if I can become that rock (both for myself and my family) and stay spiritually strong and immovable than I will not be influenced or washed away by the temptations or feelings of inadequacies of the evil one. I must continually and consistently keep myself spiritually strong by praying,  reading scriptures, or watching uplifting videos in order to persevere and endure this trial to the best of my ability. I want to be that rock that cannot be washed away and endure this trial to the very best of my ability.