Rejoice, do not slacken

Well I guess it has been a long time since I have thought deeply about anything, since I haven't posted for a few months! :) Not really, deep thinking happens everyday (well maybe every other day) :) but then there is the issue of time and tiredness. I was thinking the other day how much more I could do if I didn't ever get tired! I'll have to wait for the eternities for that I suppose. But I believe earthly constraints are only tests of our ability to make the best of frustrating situations and of our convictions to do what is really important in this life. It is very easy to get discouraged when things do not go our way, even the little things in the day that go wrong can be seemingly huge obstacles to our daily happiness... that sounds extreme doesn' t it? But it's true, at least for me. I think we have become very spoiled in our modernity. Conveniences that have come to us because of colossally fast-growing technology and we think, "How did we survive without this before?" i.e. cell phones and credit cards slots at the gas station. I sat in my car today and thought, "Wow, a few years ago, I would've had to WALK INSIDE and pay! Heaven forbid. (Just a side note, I only paid $60 to fill up our van!!!!! This was very exciting.) I know that these conveniences are a blessing in a way, but I also think they can be a curse. Life is supposed to be hard right? But we are also placed on this earth to have joy... is that a paradox? The only conclusion I can come to is that we must be able to find joy even when life is hard. Life should not be something we get through and we shouldn't use afflictions as an excuse to slacken our strength. I love this quote by Nephi:

26 "O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
(2 Nephi 4: 26-29) click to hear a really beautiful song.

Well I don't know about you, but this scripture definitely inspires me. Even a prophet of God "droops" once in awhile, but he did let this deter him from being the kind of person he wanted to be, and that Heavenly Father wanted him to be! That is the key I think. I am definitely not suggesting that all our trials come from mere frustrations when things don't go our way. I know that many trials come from severe hurt and physical or emotional suffering. But I believe that the principle illustrated in this scripture holds true for any kind of difficult situation.We all have times when we feel like we just can't do it anymore, but if we have too many days of slackening our strength and seeing life as a burden more than a treasure, that is when we lose joy. I definitely believe it takes a DAILY recommitment to our purpose in this life. And having the Gospel really really helps. It gives us so much to draw from. How much we have to be thankful for in this life!