"You can choose to see a trial as a roadblock or an expressway. If you see it as a roadblock, it will obstruct your way. However, if you see it as an expressway, you can use it to learn and grow." "The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan whereby we can become what God wants us to become. In fact, we become great people because of our trials, not in spite of them." This booklet reviews the nature, origins, and purposes of adversity and includes suggestions on how to patiently trust in the Lord and His eternal plan and how to use these trials to learn and grow stronger. You can benefit from your trials if you: Develop a relationship with God Let others help you Let God carry your burdens Trust that the Lord is in control and allow His will to be done Remember that everyone has challenges Let adversity make you a better person Live with integrity Be patient Make the best of your situation Serve others Keep a positive attitude Keep an eternal perspective

Nothing in this life is permanent, and our strength is constantly being tested by trials. Yet Allah is there for us when we need Him: our prayers to Him help us see that life is an awesome gift. This books verses ponder the difficulties of life and how we can accept them through faith. They mingle sincere personal reflection with an awareness of the simplicity and beauty of a life lived well. The sincerity in the writing is not a dead weight of seriousness, but is the life behind the poems. Jo Shan has presented a personal view on her faith that is quite interesting in a world where others often have very simplified views of Islam. Stiofn Maoilbhreannain, Editor, Occams Eraser, Dublin, Ireland POEMS are short phrases but contain powerful messages. Those who write them should know and those who read them could feel. Jo Shan shares her thoughts about what it is to OVERCOME, ACCEPT, REFLECT, ENCOURAGE, and EULOGIZE on the challenges of becoming a Muslim, especially for someone like her who meets Islam and thereafter decided to embrace it as her lifes destiny. Her collection of poems, penned under the title BLESSINGS BEHIND LIFES TRIALS bears testimony to her journey in discovering how Islam makes all the sense to her in her human meaning and becoming. Yamin Cheng, Lecturer in Usuluddin and Comparative Religion, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia Seeking success for the next world as a believer in this world is a constant struggle fraught with seemingly endless tribulations. Sister Jo Shans evocative poetry brings words of peace and comfort in this tumultuous world and reminds us that the struggle may be hard, but the guidance and strength of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala is there for us. In poems such as Imperfection and Ring the Changes, she meets the challenges of the world (dunya) and casts them back, reminding us of their ephemeral nature. She brings us back to the ultimate meaning of our struggle. In poems such as Love in Life and Life Mark, she reminds of the many blessings we already receive from the Almighty. These blessings are at times too easily dismissed in a hectic world, but Sister Jo Shans poems cry out to us not let go of the many generous gifts that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has graciously bestowed upon us all. This anthology will gladden your heart and speak to you of the peace and solace that await, InshaAllah. Leo Schmitt, Assistant Director, International Student Support Center, New York University, USA

“A triumph. This novel’s haunting strength will hold the reader until the very end and make Faith and her story impossible to forget.” —Richmond Times Dispatch “Extraordinary.” —Orlando Sentinel From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult (Nineteen Minutes, Change of Heart, Handle with Care) comes Keeping Faith: an “addictively readable” (Entertainment Weekly) novel that “makes you wonder about God. And that is a rare moment, indeed, in modern fiction” (USA Today).

The prophet Brigham Young taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a basic, practical way that gave inspiration and hope to the Saints struggling to build a home in the wilderness. Though more than a century has now passed, his words are still fresh and appropriate for us today as we continue the work of building the kingdom of God. President Young declared that as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we possess the “doctrine of life and salvation for all the honest-in-heart” (DBY, 7). He promised that those who receive the gospel in their hearts will have awakened “within them a desire to know and understand the things of God more than they ever did before in their lives” and will begin to “inquire, read and search and when they go to their Father in the name of Jesus he will not leave them without a witness” (DBY, 450). This book reflects the desire of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to deepen the doctrinal understanding of Church members and to awaken within them a greater desire to know the things of God. It will inspire and motivate individuals, priesthood quorums, and Relief Society classes to inquire, read, search, and then go to their Father in Heaven for a witness of the truth of these teachings. Each chapter contains two sections—“Teachings of Brigham Young” and “Suggestions for Study.” The first section consists of extracts from Brigham Young’s sermons to the early Saints. Each statement has been referenced, and the original spelling and punctuation have been preserved; however, the sources cited will not be readily available to most members. These original sources are not necessary to have in order to effectively study or teach from this book. Members need not purchase additional references and commentaries to study or teach these chapters. The text provided in this book, accompanied by the scriptures, is sufficient for instruction. Members should prayerfully read and study President Young’s teachings in order to gain new insights into gospel principles and discover how those principles apply to their everyday lives. By faithfully and prayerfully studying these selections, Latter-day Saints will have a greater understanding of gospel principles and will more fully appreciate the profound and inspired teachings of this great prophet. The second section of each chapter offers a series of questions that will encourage thoughtful contemplation, personal application, and discussion of President Young’s teachings. Members should refer to and carefully reread his words on the principle being discussed. Deep and prayerful study of these teachings will inspire members to greater personal commitment and will help them resolve to follow the teachings of the Savior, Jesus Christ. If individuals and families prayerfully follow the principles in this book, they will be blessed and inspired to greater dedication and spirituality, as were the early Saints who heard these words directly from the lips of the “Lion of the Lord” (HC, 7:434)—the prophet, seer, and revelator, President Brigham Young.

In this remarkable New York Times bestseller, Joel Osteen offers unique insights and encouragement that will help readers overcome every obstacle in their lives.

The astonishing, Job-like story of how an existence filled with loss, suffering, questioning, and anger became a life filled with shocking and incomprehensible peace and joy. Vaneetha Risner contracted polio as an infant, was misdiagnosed, and lived with widespread paralysis. She lived in and out of the hospital for ten years and, after each stay, would return to a life filled with bullying. When she became a Christian, though, she thought things would get easier, and they did: carefree college days, a dream job in Boston, and an MBA from Stanford where she met and married a classmate. But life unraveled. Again. She had four miscarriages. Her son died because of a doctor's mistake. And Vaneetha was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, meaning she would likely become a quadriplegic. And then her husband betrayed her and moved out, leaving her to raise two adolescent daughters alone. This was not the abundant life she thought God had promised her. But, as Vaneetha discovered, everything she experienced was designed to draw her closer to Christ as she discovered "that intimacy with God in suffering can be breathtakingly beautiful."