The Power of Prayer

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been an incredibly good one.  Note that I did not say easy.  It has actually  been a rather challenging week.  But I learned a lot about myself and the power of my God.

I do not exactly know why this week has been so hard.  In some ways I do, in others I do not.  It was hard because school is starting to pick up I have had quizzes and assignments, and the next two weeks I have my first exam in every single one of my classes.  This is the biggest class load I have had since coming home from my mission, and I am finding that I am still adjusting to the life of a college student.  But I have found time to do everything required of me, and have learned a great deal about my capacities and my strength.  But I do not take credit for this.  I thank my God for the mind he has given me and for the blessing it is that I can obtain such a wonderful education.

As I said, this week was hard for reasons I do not understand.  There were moments when I felt down in the dumps.  Moments when I was just sad.  One particular night, I found myself alone in my bedroom.  Feeling sad, and alone, tears began to come and I could not stop crying.  So that nobody gets the wrong idea, I was not sobbing uncontrollably, but I was having a good cry.  It was late at night, and I knew there was nobody I could call and talk to. I did not know why I was so sad, or why I was crying.  Stress from school?  Missing my brother who is on his mission? Missing my mission?  Sorrow that I was going to loose another best friend and roommate to marriage?  Although I could not place my feelings, and I do not know what I would have said had there been someone to call, I wanted nothing more than to have someone to talk to.  To have someone to cry with.  I cried tears of self pity for a few moments before I found myself on my knees.  As I prayed, I realized I had found someone to talk to.  And He listened to my pains and my sorrows.  In Him I found comfort.  The sorrow did not completely go away, but I no longer felt alone.  I realized I always had someone to talk to.  I always have someone who is there for me.  So do you.

I guess this week really has been a week of powerful prayer.  At the beginning of the week, I had lost one of my notebooks that had all my notes from two of my classes.  I really needed the notebook to study for an upcoming quiz.  I looked everywhere for my notebook.  I searched my whole room, cleaned my room, and looked throughout my apartment.  I could not find it.  So I prayed.  I then looked under my bed, and the notebook was right there.  I quickly said a prayer of gratitude.

Earlier this month I had lost my car keys to the messy abyss of my bedroom and had been using my extra set.  I was not too worried about it when it first happened, but as the weeks progressed and I began to clean my room and actually start looking for the lost keys, I began to worry when I really could not find them.  So, when I was praying for my lost notebook, I figured it was a good time to pray for my lost keys too.  And no, they were not under my bed with the notebook.  I didn't even find them until a few days after I had said that prayer.  But I did find them.  One morning, I was getting dressed for school and decided to wear a pair of pants that I hadn't worn in a few weeks.  They're not my favorite.  I put them on, and noticed a bulge in my pocket.  I stuck my hand in, and pulled out..........drum roll......my car keys!  I dropped to my knees, and gave thanks to my God.

I know this church is true.  I have a huge testimony of the power of prayer.  God answered my prayers this week, as he has always done.  Prayer is an amazing thing.  I testify that it truly is communication with our loving Heavenly Father.  When we pray, he hears us.  I know that answers do not always come when or how we want them.  But they always come in the best way for us.  Like He answers my prayers, I promise God will answer yours too.

Con amor (with love),
S. Olsen