faith is for the future

The start of a new year gives us all the wonderful opportunity to look back and reflect on our lives, as well as prepare for whatever the future has in store for us. Every time January comes around, I think about who I want to become, as well as who my Father in Heaven wants me to be, and it's exciting to map out a plan each year that will help me become that person. I love love love setting new goals and looking forward to the countless opportunities that lie ahead with each new year. However, sometimes the future can be daunting. I think I have made it fairly obvious that I completely lack confidence in making decisions. I am so afraid of heading down a path that will ultimately lead me to fail, that it weakens my ability to have faith that everything will be ok. Because of this, I have made a resolution to have increased faith. My Heavenly Father has made it so apparent to me (especially lately) that He is always there for me and that I have the brightest of futures ahead of me. How could I not trust in Him? 

I was reading a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland today titled, "The Best is Yet to Be" and this quote expressed my thoughts and feelings exactly:  

"Some of you may wonder: Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester, a new major or a new romance, a new job or a new home hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be beter to look back, to go back, to stay in the past? 

To all such of every generation, I call out, 'Remember Lot's wife.' Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the 'high priest of good things to come.' (Hebrews 9:11)

Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year's resolution I ask you to keep."

Take some time today to think about where you want your life to lead you this year. As cheesy as it sounds, the possibilities truly are endless with help from our Savior, Jesus Christ.