Faith and Trust pt. 2

So. How's it going? It has really been a while. If blogging was a religion, I would be inactive. Thankfully it is not. I don't have any real reason for not blogging lately, just that I haven't. I would say laziness, but I don't think that would be completely accurate (It could be related to Mario...) ANYWAY!
Our family is doing really well. Our kids have had their bout with the "flu". Jenna is doing such a good job with them as a mother. She is great, I married very well. I am grateful I listened to the Lord and my dad. Of course it was my decision, but I know I didn't do it alone. I don't think I would have been as happy if I had.
We have been pretty busy with the house purchasing process lately. It has worked out so well that it can only be the hand of the Lord. I got some information at school about USDA loans for rural development, typed a few things into the internet, was contacted by some of the workers of this place. Had a house here in mind and it has just flowed. One of the other things is that this home we are buying just fell into our laps. It is too perfect to have been anything other than divine assistance. I know the Lord has a sense of timing and blesses us according to our readiness to progress. I had been holding back on a lot of things until this summer, and when I finally decided to commit to getting my Master's degree in Educational Leadership and get really organized in my teaching, things started to fall into place.
It is interesting that the blessings didn't come until a certain time. I really believe in the time table of the Lord. We often in our human impatience try to rush things along. If we will but trust the Lord, we would avoid a lot of our mistakes. Frustration can lead us to rash decisions, rash judgments and mistakes we would otherwise avoid. I don't believe the Lord creates stress for us, He is the one telling us to "trust in [him] with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding." (Prov. 3:5-6) If our hearts and lives are in order "all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly" (D&C 100:15). "Be still and know that I am God." (D&C 101:16).
It is interesting to me that we spend most of our lives stressing, when the Lord instead is telling us to "hold on thy way" (D&C 122:9) He wants us to continue down a strait and direct path. We know our goals. He knows our hearts. We go straight. We aren't to be troubled. D&C 123:17 is one of my favorites: "Therefore dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God and for his arm to be revealed." (emphasis added)
These are a few things I have learned the hard way, but I feel like maybe I am starting to learn them. It is a long journey for all of us, and I believe that the journey is to teach us to become like God. It is a training, a lesson, a class, and a test. All the different events we face, worldly pressures, oppositions, doubts, buffetings, and fears are to "prove [us] to see if we will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]." (Abraham 3:25) I am not saying I pass every test. I fail quite often, but I have seen that when I doubt or fear things pass me by. It happened to Oliver Cowdery. He was counseled in D&C 6:36, "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." Oliver was told in D&C 8:10, "Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith". Oliver didn't prepare or exercise enough therefore when the time to translate came...he couldn't do it. D&C 9:11 says it clearly, "Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now." Oliver missed an opportunity for a blessing due to his fear and lack of preparation.
I am not condemning Oliver Cowdery for this, for in his experience I have seen myself many, many times. Opportunities waiting for me and my family that I didn't take because I didn't prepare and I doubted. I know I am not alone in this.
There was a point with this house where I was about to do like I usually did and say, "Well, maybe we should wait." But then I felt strongly, even though I was tempted to quit, that I should see the process through and see what happens. I guess I had to exercise a little faith. Things are working for our good. Things are being provided as we move forward. The Lord wants our family to have a home. We want to serve the Lord in this area as much as possible. We are not perfect in this, but we desire it. I know the Lord blesses us for that, and makes up for our weakness. God is sure. He is constant. If he promises, it will come to pass. His time table is perfect for us. If we will make the steps to improve ourselves, to do the "hard" things, life will become easier. Because we will know in "whom [we] have trusted" (2 Nephi 4:19) and when we know that God will NOT let us down, we will no longer fear.