For with God Nothing Shall be Impossible

When I think of this scripture, I am reminded of my year 13 Outdoor Education class. It was the dead of winter and we were inside because we were working on our leadership unit. The activity we were working on involved getting across an obstacle course of foam pads that were far apart from each other and we couldn't touch the ground or we'd have to start again. We did it twice round. The first time, the room was silent and we had to get across using our own minds and the second time we had encouragement from our peers. The first time round, I remember my time was a minute longer than when I had encouragement. The scripture reminds me of this activity because when we have Christ and Heavenly Father helping us through life, everything is so much easier.

When I finished high school, I moved a world away from all of my friends. Literally, I was living in the North of England, in the Lake District and moved to South Florida two weeks after getting my A-Level results. I was lonely, I was depressed, I was suicidal and on occasion I did self harm. I didn't have the gospel in my life and I had no idea what I was going to spend the rest of my life doing. I lived day to day, late to work every single day because I didn't see the point in getting up. I worked one part time job but didn't have the energy to get a second one. I went to work, I came home, I watched tv, went to bed. It felt like a never ending cycle. Worst of all, I was lonely.

Temple trip with the sisters in my ward, the day
after I was suspended

About a year ago, I got fired from my dream job. It also happened to be during the week that I had started reading my scriptures in the mornings before work and I'd given myself the challenge of not listening to any secular music for a month. Looking back, losing my job should have been impossible. I remember phoning my mom and telling her how depressed and low and suicidal I felt, but I also clung tighter to the iron rod. The day I was suspended, I went to the temple. The next day, I had lunch with the Sister Missionaries in my ward. I did everything I possibly could to not let go of Christ, but to bring Him in my life more. And it didn't feel impossible. It felt almost easy going through and event that gave me a lot of trauma and stress and anger. I made it thanks to God and Jesus Christ. I was able to get a job less than two weeks after I got fired - my unemployment benefits didn't even have time to kick in! And I know that that is thanks to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. 

After getting termed I moved back in with my parents and joined a new YSA, where my Institute teacher is one of the best teachers I've ever had, (that is a blessing in itself) and an extremely inviting ward filled with converts and a branch President who invited us over for hot dogs and s'mores (his wife took care to get me kosher hot dogs because she knows I eat kosher). 

In June of 2019 President Nelson came to Orlando during his "Follow the Prophet" tour, where I have the privilege of being an usher. During his talk he said "Jesus Christ is our anchor when we are desperately in need," and that echoes the Luke 1:32 scripture because without an anchor, we are adrift and it can seem impossible to stay in one place, but an anchor makes everything possible.

This last year should have been impossible. I've lost the majority of my friends, I lost my dream job and moved back in with my parents. But it wasn't. It wasn't, because I had Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ holding my hand with every step I took. I asked Him for guidance when I lost my job and He has continuously helped me since, because with God, nothing is impossible.