6. Everyone feels pain, anguish and despair
at one time or another throughout their
lives. Everyone goes through trials. At
times when you’re feeling alone just
remember that you are not. Alma 7:11-
12 says, “11. And he shall go forth,
suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and this that
the word might be fulfilled which saith he
will take upon him the pains and the
sickness of his people. 12. And he will
take upon him death, that he may loose
the bands of death which bind his
people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may know
according to the flesh how to succor his
people according to their infirmities.”
Jesus Christ was a perfect person, he
never sinned, he never once did
anything wrong, but he suffered more
than any of us will experience or
understand. We all go through our own
struggles, one of my greatest struggles is
my depression.
Depression was not at all what I thought. In my mind,
depression was portrayed as sadness all the time. I
thought depression meant you were crying about
everything and anything 24/ 7. That’s not how the doctor
explained it to me. This was new, my whole life I thought
depression was just another term for ‘really sad’ or
‘bummed out,’ and I knew I was neither of those things.
The doctors helped me to see it in a whole different light
though. He explained it to be that you don’t see light at
all. The world is a dull colorless place, and the things that
once used to make you happy have no effect on you
anymore. It does not necessarily mean you are sad or
blue, or cry about every single thing, but that you aren’t
happy. You don’t see color in the world anymore, and
everything is just boring. Depression was a chemical
imbalance in the brain, and this made a lot more sense
to me. This is what I felt, but I knew I wasn’t alone.
Alma36:3
Even with all I learned, it was still hard to accept the
doctor’s diagnosis and decide on treatment. Jesus Christ
suffered for us. He knows every ounce of pain we have
been through. The knowledge that my savior knows me,
and knows my pain is so incredibly comforting to me.
Jesus Christ redeems all people from the effects of the
Fall. All people who have ever lived on the earth and who
ever will live on the earth will be resurrected and brought
back into the presence of God to be judged. Through the
Savior's gift of mercy and redeeming grace, we will all
receive the gift of immortality and live forever in glorified,
resurrected bodies. I prayed immensely to know what to
do, I prayed for comfort and peace in my time of need.
If I was to give one piece of advice to others who are struggling, it would be
not to suffer in silence. There are people out there who have been through
everything that you are experiencing and have come out on the other side. In
fact, their experiences have made them who they are today. It may seem
impossible to overcome but believe me, you will get there. While everyone
experiences trials that can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety,
we can always lean on the atonement. Above all we should never lose faith in
our Heavenly Father as well as our savior Jesus Christ. Also let us remember
that through any illness or difficult challenge, there is still much in life to be
hopeful about and grateful for.
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