Beating the Blahs

I had a wonderful Christmas this year. I spent time with my family, gave gifts that I'd been thoughtful over, gave and felt love. It was the best experience I've ever had at Christmas time. I'm very thankful.

Today is December 26, 2015 - the day after Christmas. The celebration is over. The "Blahs" are trying to sneak into my soul. The feelings of disheartenedness are waiting to fill my heart. I'm trying to protect myself from them. I'm going to try to build on the relationships that were strengthened this past month.  I'm hanging on to my faith in my Savior and my Father in Heaven. They love me and can send the Holy Spirit to fill my soul with hope.

Life is like that. There are joyful times, sad times and blah times. I believe that before we were born we lived in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our Elder brother. It was such a beautiful, joyful place, and therefore, here on this earth, our Spirits search for light. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about these trials of the heart and encourages us to hang on when times are hard. This speech is a classic. It has helped me immensely.

This is my after Christmas gift to you.

"Paul said to those who thought a new testimony, a personal conversion, or a spiritual baptismal experience would put them beyond trouble, “Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions” (Hebrews 10:32; emphasis added). 

Then came this tremendous counsel, which is at the heart of my counsel to you and the title of my remarks this morning: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. . . . . . . If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. . . . . . . We are not of them who draw back unto perdition. [Hebrews 10:35–36, 38–39; emphasis added]

Paul said, but don’t “draw back,” he warned. Don’t panic and retreat. Don’t lose your confidence. Don’t forget how you once felt. Don’t distrust the experience you had."

To read the complete speech, click on this link...

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland_cast-not-away-therefore-your-confidence/