Sometimes things are tough. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. Difficult things help us see what we can get through and help us understand who we really are.
However, when the tough times arrive, you have to be prepared. You can't start preparing then.
For me, a personal testimony of Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel as found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is especially important. As things change in the world around us, we have to be grounded in our faith and really have come to KNOW that what we believe is true. Otherwise, when challenges arise, and they will, if we haven't built on solid ground, we can be more easily shaken.
Sometimes there are things that are hard to understand. We can't see with our limited view the reason for certain events. Isaiah 55:8-9. We can, however, have faith that in time, we'll come to understand all things. If you have prayed to your Father in Heaven and received your witness of truth, when the hard times come, you must rely on that. One of the latter-day Apostles said "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2013 General Conference)."
I think we tend to forget to do that.
We have a personal trial where we just can't understand why it would happen to us. Somebody says something that we don't agree with, but they're a leader, so we're supposed to follow them. God tells us to ASK him. He'll help us understand in due time.
In The Book of Mormon, one of the first stories we read about is Lehi receiving a vision (a dream) that his family needs to pack up and leave Jerusalem. His son, Nephi, goes along without heistation, following his father's counsel. He later says, "I know that [God] loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
Sometimes, we need to take a step into the darkness before the light comes. If we look back at the things we've felt, the things we've been assured of, we can use that testimony to get us through until we're feeling strong again. If you have read The Book of Mormon and you received an answer that it was true, and that God restored His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith, you can trust that and pray for understanding of things that come that are difficult. As Paul says in the New Testament, "Cast not away therefore your confidence." (See Hebrews 10:35)
I have felt the Holy Spirit tell me that The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith translated it. I have also had a witness that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet for our day. I have to trust that God has a reason for all He does, and that someday, I will understand. For now, I can seek for peace until the understanding comes. I have had experiences with that. I don't always understand why, but I know God does, and that is enough.
