Are You Tough Enough?

One of my flaws as a writer (as I have been reminded multiple times by most of my psychology professors) is that I am too long-winded. So I am going to do my best to give you a concise powerful devo that includes all of my thoughts. But I might fail. Deal with it.

I was talking with Brother Bearrie Cees last night as he came by to check on me in my fragile state/eat all my ice cream when we got started on a topic that inspired this Bearrie Devo. Every single one of us has some really hard stuff that we have to deal with in this life. We are all dealt our individual burdens that no one else can carry for us or even fully understand. They are ours to face and work through as we live this life. And we know this a purposeful aspect in the grand design of the Plan of Salvation. We are told in 1st Nephi that we will be given difficult tasks and heavy loads, but that Heavenly Father will never give us more than we can handle. But sometimes it feels like maybe Heavenly Father made a mistake and gave us way too much. Sometimes it feels like it's impossible to push through...

At one point in my life I was really struggling with a lot of circumstances and trials that had come into my life through no fault of my own. They were not due to my mistakes or sins and it felt entirely unfair. I met with my Bishop about it and after I told him everything, he literally looked me in the face and said, "Billy, your situation is a real bitch." I was in shock. My Bishop just swore at me. But I really appreciated that he didn't try to act like my situation was fair. Because it wasn't. But he followed up that charming sentiment with this, "Billy, this situation isn't going to resolve itself and you're going to deal with it for most of your life. I can't fix that. All I can ask you is: Are you tough enough?" That question stuck. I have thought about it ever since. Am I tough enough? I am going to have to face hard things throughout life that will question my testimony, faith, hope, and endurance. I can't quit and turn around when things get hard. I need to keep pushing through no matter how unfair it is. I HAVE to be tough enough. Because I want to reach the prize at the end. The prize we are all working toward: eternal happiness and salvation with those that we love.

So, my brother and sister Bearries, I know life sucks sometimes. And I know sometimes it's our fault and sometimes it isn't. I know some of you are struggling to find someone to love and be with, some of you are moving to foreign new places and taking on huge scary challenges, I know some of you have experienced sickness and death of loved ones, and I know some of you have experienced doubts in regards to your testimony and the Church. And then I know there are hundreds of trials you all deal with that I'll never know about. But I just wanted to ask all of you: Are you tough enough? Search, ponder, and pray on that question until you can confidently answer, "Yes." Because I know you all are. Be a Bearrie. Be tough. And never forget the prize we are all working toward and the ultimate happiness we will receive. Love you all.

Three paragraphs. Not bad.