I have had depression and anxiety for most of my life. It’s been a real struggle, and I have looked for every way to cope with it. One day in church, my mom and I were in a Sunday School lesson. I was having a particularly hard time, and it had been going on for weeks. My mom turned to me and said, “Choose to be happy.”
I thought, “Gee, Mom, don’t you think if I could be happy, I would be?” It had always made me mad when people assumed that depression and anxiety was a choice. “Don’t you get it?” I thought.
But what my mom said and the way she said it resonated with me. It struck a chord.
In the 2 Corinthians 12:5–10, Paul openly talks about his struggles. He often discusses his life before Christ and even talks about his current struggles. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a constant reminder of his weakness, but it also helped him to learn to rely on God’s strength.
When we face trials, we can choose to see them as opportunities to learn and grow. Weakness is not a sign of failure. Paul taught us that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. This means that God can use our weaknesses to accomplish His purposes. When we are weak, we are more likely to rely on God’s strength.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “The Savior’s grace is sufficient to help us find strength in our weakness. When we are humble enough to admit our weaknesses and to seek His help, He will strengthen us and help us to overcome our challenges.”
Life can be tough. There are temptations, trials, health issues, work and home stress. When times are tough, we can turn to the Lord and choose to follow Him. By humbling ourselves and allowing His grace to overtake our struggles, we can find the joy that this life has to offer.
Choosing to be happy is not as easy as my mom put it, but I had a mental shift that day. I realized that I didn’t have to let my depression and anxiety control me. I could choose to focus on the good things in my life and to trust in God’s strength. I decided to take my mom’s advice to heart. I started praying more regularly, and I started reading the scriptures more often.
At first, it was hard to see a difference. But over time, I started to feel better. I realized that I could trust in the Lord to help me through my trials. I realized that He loved me and that He wanted to help me be happy.
It’s important to remember that God’s grace is sufficient for us, even in our weakest moments. When we trust in God’s grace, we can overcome any trial.
Overcoming trials through Christ’s grace is a process. It takes time and effort. But it is possible. If you are struggling with a trial, please know that you are not alone. God loves you, and He wants to help you. Trust in Him, and He will give you the strength to overcome.
The song “The Sun Will Shine Again” by Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand has been a great source of comfort and inspiration to me during my struggles with depression and anxiety. It reminds me that even in my darkest moments, I am not alone. God loves me, and He is with me.
Here are some additional tips for overcoming trials through Christ’s grace:
- Pray regularly. Prayer is a powerful way to communicate with God and to receive His strength.
- Read the scriptures. The scriptures are full of stories of people who have overcome trials through Christ’s grace.
- Attend church regularly. Church is a great place to worship God and to receive support from other believers.
- Serve others. Serving others is a great way to forget about our own problems and to focus on the needs of others.
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk to someone about what we’re going through.
Remember, God loves you and He wants to help you. Trust in Him, and He will give you the strength to overcome any trial.
Living the Good News 