“Trusting in the Lord’s Plan for Me,” Ensign, October 2015, 56–57
Mid-Singles
Trusting in the Lord’s Plan for Me
The author lives in Arizona, USA.
Each time I put my trust in my Heavenly Father to guide me, He quietly and miraculously did just that.
Detail from Woman with a Dog, by Brian Kershisnik, may not be copied
In 1998, after 27 years of marriage, my husband left me. Because I never thought it would happen to me, and because my love for my husband was so strong, the path I was now on was devastating. Although our three children were grown and gone, the shock of knowing that I was really alone was extremely hard. Eventually, however, I came to see that divorce was the only option, and I felt peace about what had to be done. I found an attorney, the papers were drawn up, and our two signatures were affixed.
In a Wilderness
As an active member of the Church, I faithfully attended my meetings, attended the temple, tried to magnify my callings, regularly read my scriptures, fervently prayed, and had priesthood blessings. Still, I was in a real wilderness. Then, one Sunday during Gospel Doctrine class, we were reading 1 Nephi 17:13: “And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” In the days and years to come, I was to discover how this scripture would be an anchor for me in my redirected life.
Faith Was the Key
I found that faith was the key to my moving forward. Each time I put my trust in my Heavenly Father to guide me, He quietly and miraculously did just that. However, my life was not without great pain, feelings of abandonment, and vast ignorance of how to accomplish by myself the many tasks once done by two. That scripture in 1 Nephi was my lifeline. In the years that followed, Heavenly Father helped me to sell our family home, continue working as a teacher in the public schools, serve in Church leadership callings, care for our mentally ill daughter, settle the finances, build a new home, learn to take care of car and home repairs, and to live alone happily.
I treasure the tender mercies extended to me from my loving Heavenly Father. Also, I know that despite the fact that my husband left me, that none of my children are active Church members, and that it would be easy to convince myself that my prospects for an eternal family look dark, I have faith in the promise in Isaiah 55:8−9:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The Lord Will Make All Things Right
Therefore, I eagerly await eternity, confident that the Lord will make all things right. What His plans are for me, I do not now know. But, nothing doubting, I trust with all my heart in His eternal plan for me—and my broken family. It will be good. It will be right. It will be His plan. And I shall rejoice!