I have had difficult few months. Not difficult in the sense of anything truly bad happening to me, but just months in which there are a lot of little things I’m dealing with and a lot of time spent wasted with being worried, instead of being productive.
I’m mentally tired and cranky, feeling as if I’m at a point in my life in which I’m just wading in the water, not really going anywhere. In truth, I’m really not at all that happy. I can’t really explain other than I feel as if I have hit a huge boulder and can’t find a way around it. There are a lot of things I’m dealing with in which there are no immediate solutions.
My prayer life hasn’t been great lately. When I sit down to meditate and have my time with God, I find myself uncharacteristically speechless. My prayers are something out of a Valley Girl dialogue. “Like, yeah, God, you’re like so awesome, like you know, all awesome like. And like, you know, I am like grateful for you and stuff.” Granted, I do know there is the option of keeping still and communing with our Heavenly Father without words, but I find myself having a double dialogue inside my head which adds to the insecurity of me losing my mind- for reals this time.
Faith is a funny thing. When we are dealing with struggles within our faith, an important question to ask, “Is it really our faith we are struggling with? Or is it what we’re doing-or not doing?”
A lot of my unhappiness has been the way I have dealt with life’s struggles. I have not been praying or even taking the time to look over my scriptures. I am an all or nothing person and if I can’t devote all the time I need for anything, I tend to throw my hands up in discouragement.
In a moment of what I can only describe as Heavenly Father slapping me to reality (with love, of course) I remembered God is the literal Father to all of us humans. He loves us and is genuinely interested in our welfare and wants very much to communicate with us-if we are open to listen and to turn to Him. Despite all that may be going on in our lives, God tells us that no matter what-no matter how… we should always pray.
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. (D&C 6:36)
We are all prone to sin. Yet, with that said, God knew all of our shortcomings beforehand, yet He sent His Son to assume responsibility in our place.
A huge part of my drawing a blank in prayer was due to the feelings of shame I felt when I prayed. Understanding and accepting the sacrifice of God’s Son and knowing God is a loving Father, I immediately felt at peace.
And I felt the glowing warmth of His love.
Luke 21:36
2 Thess 1:11
2 Ne. 32:9
3 Ne. 18:15,18
D&C 10:5; 19:38; 20:33; 31:12; 61:39; 88:126; 9:24; 93:49
mormonllyspeaking.wordpress.com 
Hi Jamie
Thanks for the reminder about prayer, the one enduring source of strength and insight. This time of year is a “perfect storm” for so many of us. The intersection of the end of the business year, the dark days, and the pressure associated with Christmas. It is a wonder any of us make it through this.
CW
I too struggle. You are an encouragement to me to carry on. We are all in this life together. Heavenly Father is with us all, we are only to remember that and find our strength.