If December taught me nothing else, it's that God will give you more than you can handle.
The last couple of weeks of the semester were nearly the end of me. I had a lot of plans for this semester and speaking at one of my best friend's funeral certainly wasn't one of them. I've been behind this entire semester because of getting a concussion and other things, but this was the final straw, the point where I knew I couldn't handle any more. I was operating at more than 100% and for far too long. Quite simply, God had given me more than I could handle.
The scriptures contain a lot of promises, but no where do they say that you won't be given more than you can bear.
But the key is, God will never give you more than you can handle alone.
What the scriptures do say is this: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; and ye shall find rest unto your souls." -Matthew 11:28-29
God will give us more than we can handle because we are not meant to carry the load alone. Trials and burdens are meant to teach us to reach out to our Savior, to allow Him to help you carry the weight you were never meant to carry on your own.
"Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a “healing” cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are “healed” by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us." -Dallin H. Oaks
In Mosiah 24, the Lord did "strengthen up [Alma and his brethren] that they could bear up their burdens with ease.
Sometimes God takes away our pain or trials, but I think more often he gives us the strength to get through them.
We grow, not despite our trials, but because of them.
The struggles of this semester caused me to rely even greater on my Savior. I cried and prayed every day to be able to do what I needed to. It's kind of like how you're always grateful for the ability to breathe, but you suddenly become a whole lot more grateful when you get a cold. I'm always grateful for a Savior to rely on, but trials make me rely on Him a whole lot more.
2015 was a year of an incredible amount of learning and growth, largely due to the trials that I experienced. I don't know what 2016 holds in store, but I sure am excited for the lessons and growth that are sure to come.