Faith vs Fear

I haven't been very good at documenting my life recently. In a class today I was again reminded of the importance of capturing our feelings. What you and I are feeling right at this moment we will not remember unless we write it down. I will soon be attempting to play catch up, on my blog at least. Tonight's topic is something I have been thinking about for a while, and wanted to capture it while the emotions are still raw.

I've been through some rough experience in my life. Things that are difficult to understand, and hard to discuss. These experiences have led me to carry a lot of fear. The crippling kind. The kind that leads one to immediately jump to the worst possible scenario when the slightest thing goes amiss. I am no stranger to panic attacks, grief, depression, and sorrow. As hard as I try to deny these emotions, and pretend they don't exist, they are a part of my life. 

The powerful thing I have learned recently is that I do not have to let these emotions have control. I can accept them for what they are, experience them while there are here and then do my best to move forward with faith. Faith and Fear cannot exist in the same place. 

As children we learn the concept of faith is believing without seeing. I was taught about how faith is like a little seed, and if planted it will grow. At that time I connected it to my testimony, but that was it. Never did I realize that as I grew I would come to understand Faith in a more complex light. Faith is not only believing in our Savior, but the hope in a better world. Faith is what we cling to when the world is crumbling around us. Faith can bring hope even in the darkest of times. D&C 6:36 Faith can allow us to live with the knowledge that our lives can change in an instant, but still know that everything will work out in the end. Our lives will be filled with trials and struggles, but God wants us to be able to feel joy and happiness. 

It is our faith in Jesus Christ that sustains us at the crossroads of life’s journey. It is the first principle of the gospel. Without it we will spin our wheels at the intersection, spending our precious time but getting nowhere. It is Christ who offers the invitation to follow Him, to give Him our burden, and to carry His yoke, “for [His] yoke is easy, and [His] burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). - Elder Cook


I have been teaching sunday school in my ward for the past couple months. During my lessons I love to use the videos the church has put on their youtube channel. As I have spend countless hours searching for the perfect video to share I have watched so many videos of people who have gone through heart wrenching trials, but have made it through because they have Faith.

It is not an easy thing to have Faith. We truly have to step into the darkness of the unknown and have hope that we are being guided by an eternal Father in Heaven who had a plan for each of us individually. Our futures are unsure, but He knows what He is doing. This is not an easy thing to remember when we are stricken with Fear, but if we do our best to hold on to Faith we will make it through. 

I had an in depth conversation with a good friend today regarding this topic, and it left me feeling blessed. I am alive today. I have friends and family who love me. I am working a job I love. I have found a passion in life. I have been through Hell and I survived. I am a better, stronger person then I was 5 years ago. I am still not perfect. I need work, but that is why we are here in this life. To learn how to take the situations we are given in life and to make the best of them. I still feel Fear, but I have Faith that I will be able to handle what is yet to come.