My Best Friend

I wrote this post a long time ago, but I decided to re-work it. :) I hope y'all enjoy it. Oh, and please share.

As human beings we each have our own personal struggles. It could be family problems, losing a job, money troubles, stress, school, not knowing what to do with your life, health issues, depression, or feeling horribly ugly feelings. We all face them. Sometimes we face one at a time, other times many of them just come crashing down on us.
Lately I have found that many of my friends have been challenged with some extremely difficult trials. I have always sat down and thought how can I help this person or these people. It's always the same thing: a plate of cookies and a note. I've always wished I could do much more, because hurting really, really, stinks.
I, myself, have felt pain. Pain that has made me not want to get up in the mornings, to just sit in bed and cry my eyes out, to be mean to others because I myself am in pain, I've had moments where there is no peace at all, moments that I have no hope, moments that I feel so frustrated and so weak. There were times where I felt as if I couldn't go on because of one stupid thing, or a few words that slipped out from someone's mouth. I've been curled up in a blanket crying because I felt so low.
I have come to conclude that no one knew how I felt when I was struggling. No one has suffered the exact same things that I have. No one has felt the hurt and pain and the uselessness and all the other negative feelings that I have experienced. No one has been there to comfort me in my lowest moments of life. No one, except one person. He has always been there for me even when I didn't think He was. He was the one that fueled me with the desire to keep going, He was the one that comforted me when no one else knew, or was there. He was the one that put His arms around me and gave me peace when I had none. He was the one that gave me hope when everything was pitch black and there seemed to be no light. He knew all those horrible moments, all my mistakes, all my pain; He's felt them all, He's experienced them all with me. He's never left me alone.  
So this is for all those who are in a moment of suffering, even if it's something small or huge. This is for everyone who can't quite see the light at the end of the dark tunnel, no end to their suffering, no hope. Don't give up, don't give in, keep going, everything will work out. The reason I know this is because of that man I talked about. He is the one person who can take away all your pain, all your despair, everything that you are struggling with. He is the one who can comfort you beyond the ability of any one person on this earth. He's there with you through the thick and the thin. He loves YOU no matter what, and He will hear you no matter what. His love is infinite, it never wavers.
This man is so special to me. He is my brother, my savior, my redeemer, my advocate, He is my best friend, and the one person who will always be there. He is Jesus Christ. I love Him with all my heart and that will never change. I will never be ashamed of who I am and what I believe in.
As I've sought for comfort through many challenging times I have begun to feel His love so much. I have found scriptures, quotes, music, stories, and so many other things that have have strengthened me and made me feel so loved.
I want to share some of them in hopes that I will be able to help someone out there.
A quote that I absolutely love is this. "As we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we must battle our pain day by day and sometimes hour by hour, even moment by moment; . . . When pain, tests, trials come in life, draw near unto the Savior. 'Wait upon the Lord', . . . Look for him . . . Healing comes in the Lord's time and the Lord's way; be patient." Elder Robert D. Hales. I found this a few months ago when I was struggling, and I just felt the spirit so much that tears just escaped, and I couldn't stop them. I have learned that there are some days that you just have breath and take life as it comes. "There is always a voice at the end of the day that says 'I'll try again tomorrow.'"
I have recently been reading a conference talk by Elder Richard J. Maynes called "The Strength to Endure." These are just some of the exerts that I've loved. "The Lord responded by teaching the Prophet Joseph, and all of us, that the challenges we face, if successfully endured, will be for our ultimate good." "Heavenly Father has organized our journey through life to be a test of our character." "The Savior's atoning sacrifice makes possible our future salvation and exaltation through the principle of repentance. If we honestly and sincerely repent, the Atonement can help us become clean, change our nature, and successfully endure our challenges. There are so many others, it's a fabulous talk. There are many general conference talks that are just amazing!
I have always been told that when you are struggling that that is the time that you need to draw close to the Lord. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." "Don't lose faith in the things you do know because of the things you don't know." Read your patriarchal blessing, get a father's blessing, do service for others, read your scriptures, go to church, read general conference talks, pray, go to the temple, just do things that will bring you closer to the Lord. "When life gets to hard to stand; kneel." The power of prayers, of blessings, of the Lord's words are amazing and beyond anything else. They will give you strength you never knew you had in you. But always remember "He may not come when we call, but He will come on time."
I can testify that Jesus Christ will heal us when we are broken, even when we feel as if we are shattered. He loves us so much, more than we can ever imagine. I have felt the pure love of Christ multiple times and there is nothing in this world that can compare to it. I love the church I belong to: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The strength, the love, the hope, and the peace that comes from it is amazing and wonderful. This Gospel offers me things that nothing else can offer. I love my Savoir and Redeemer with my whole heart. I am immensely grateful for Joseph Smith, and that he knelt in that wonderful grove and prayed to know what church was true. I am even more grateful that he stood by it when he could have denied that he saw God the Father and His Son, just to stop the persecution on him and others. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true and living prophet who gets direction from God for us. I am grateful for Brother E and Brother Pelo for the work and effort that that they put into Heritage Tours. That tour has changed me so much, and it continues to change me. I learned so much, and I grew so much from it, and still I do. I felt the power of the Book of Mormon, and I know it to be true. I know the power of the priesthood is true and that it can bless our lives in many different ways. I know the Temple is a refuge for us during a storm and that it can give us peace. I know that families can be together forever and that we will see God once again. I know that God has a plan for me and that everything will work out for me. I love this gospel and nothing will ever take it away from me. I will always stand by what I know and what I love. This gospel is true and that fact will never change.
I say/write these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.      

I hope these words may give someone comfort out there. I pray that I may be able to touch one person.