Lose yourself

Last fall I found myself in a situation that often face young people. I stood at a cross road in my life. I had just ended my engagement and lost a job that was very important to me. I found myself staring down the barrel of a very long gun. I didnt know what to do with my life, and therefore seemingly spent every free minute thinking about how much I wasnt doing anything with my life.
I found that at this time Satan was filling my head with such notions that things in my life were going badly because I was a bad person. He tried to convince me that I wasnt worthy to pray or to goto church or other such things. I felt this overwhelming idea that because of said events I was "damaged goods" as it were, and that my life was over. I was 20 something single and unemployed with no prospect of that changing.

Depressing enough for you? Good! cuz I dont have anything else and from here the story only goes up! yay!

One day I was asked to assist in a dinner that my church was putting on. It was quite a big deal. The High Priest group social was a tradition within my stake. I was asked to assist in the kitchen and in the gymnasium. I was required to help for only an hour or two. I took the assignment somewhat grudgingly at the start. I knew I was gonna get some food out of it, so it wasnt a complete lose. I began to fulfill my duties. I had to make sure that all the food was making it from the kitchen to the serving tables in a timely manner. It wasnt a tough job at all. I began to think about service. I thought of my grandfather. He is a stake patriarch. I would say he is one of the wisest men I know. I thought of his example. He suffers from multiple ailments. When he is going through particularly hard times he always turns his heart out to others. He does his hometeaching. He visits others in the hospitals. He looks for those whose hands hang down in despair and he lifts them. I thought to myself that I would do the same.

I actually enjoyed serving so I stayed until the bitter end. I knew they were short on help so I offered to stay longer. As I did this all my troubles seemed to dissipate. I forgot all the nasty things that Satan was trying to make me believe about myself and I was able to focus on serving those around me. While in the midst of my service something also happened. My heart began to fill with love. I wasnt serving because I was going to get food after. I was serving because I wanted to help Fathers children.

I know that when times are tough Satan would have you turn inwards and focus on your wounds. He would throw a pity party for you and let you beat yourself up for all your follies.
I also know from my experience that when times are tough and your backs against the wall that you should serve the people around you. And I know, and I will promise you that you will forget your troubles. I also know that you will be blessed with revelation. That you will be able to if anything be comforted in your problems and also you will be able to receive knowledge as to the things that your Father in Heaven would have you do. This is evident consistently in my life.