I just came back to the site from a long dark time myself, and wanted to share a letter I wrote to someone who was asking why God allows dark times to happen. I think that the answer is very important, especially with the world in the times it is in. Where jobs are scarce, money can be tight, people are scrambling for what they can get to survive. You are not alone out there and I want you all to know this message as I feel it is important: I am sorry I did not see this until now, but I have not been on this site in a long time. I know how easy it is to get discouraged, to get lost in the things that happen in life. Sometimes things seem so dark it is hard to see any light at all around you, or have hope in any way or form. When things get that dark it is time to stop and look around, time to listen and pray, and time to step back and look at life. When all is dark it is hard to see the good things around you, to see the upbeat moments that most people forget about. It is hard to see the blessing of life, of hope, of joy, the promise of a better life if you listen and obey through the dark times. The dark times are our times of trial, our times of challenge and growth. Those times are the times that help make us into what we become later down the path. These are the times that build strength and faith if you can hold on through it, and show you something you cannot imagine once you cross through it. I know it is not easy and it is hard to see what God wants for you. Do not give up hope, there is always another door or window, but maybe you have yet to see what it is or where it is yet. Look not just in the scriptures, look in the world around you. God puts people that can listen and help there too if you are actively working to get through something. He does not always work by just one great miracle, but often little small ones. He works by inspiration, by faith, by the deeds of others who listen, he works by signs and wonders with those who have faith, he works by bishops, by leaders who have faith and humility to do the right things. He works by prophets and messages written in the new era, the ensign and other church doctrine. He works by friends, by family, by people who volunteer to do good things at shelters and places that help others. He lives in the hearts of those who even in darkness and despair help and uplift the world around them. God has not forgotten or abandoned you. This is your trial by fire, the test of your soul and your metal. This is the trial of how much can you bear in life, the test of faith. In the book of Job, he lost everything, up to even and including his friends in his trial by fire, even to the point of asking God why he did this to him. God allowed it because he loved and believed in his ability to conquer the devil himself and whatever devices that evil could throw at him. It is not that he hated him or that he wanted him to suffer, it was that he loved him and wanted to show the world the growth and heart of one who truly believed in him. That is the great lesson of the Lord, it is not what you bear in life, because you never bear it alone even when it seems dark, it is what you do with your life and how you live it for when you come home to the mansions you build above. God does love you. Through all the pain, the despair, the hate, the dirt of the world, he is there waiting for you to come home, to clean it all off and to become who you were meant to be. God does not try those he does not love most and know can make it through to show the world who they are and who they are meant to become. Never give up hope, and never doubt that he is really there. He loves you and everyone around him, even the ones that turn away from him. He cares about his children. He weeps for those lost in the darkness, those that join the crowds that jeer and cry out to draw people away from all things good. He stands at the doors and watches everything that happens on earth, and the tallies of the angels that stand before him of every deed, thought and work in life. God knows what you bear, and how you suffer. He loves you. He is there, he does care and he will always be there. No matter how far from the world or dark things seem, turn around and that one little light can always be found, never far from your heart, never far from your mind or spirit. He will show you the way if you just look for him and keep listening. Again I am sorry that I never saw this until now, but I hope this helps a bit. Never give up and never give in to the darkness, Sincerely, Maraleh

Tags: Faith Hope Darkness Dispair God Jesus Love

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