Fencing in the Dark

Often we go through life fighting in the dark: we flail our arms at whatever is coming, but yet we don't know what, so we flail.  But isn't that life?  Isn't life supposed to be a mystery everyday, a fight constantly ever battling the ills of life?
     Yes life is a battle and a mystery, but you don't have to fight unawares.  We may not know what to expect everyday, but we can always prepare so that when the trials come we may clearly see the opposition in our way.  And we will no longer flail but strike accurately conquering whatever may be in our path.  This light is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provided us by the scriptures and the prophets.

    “…I should like to consider a kind of light that has infinitely greater power and effect. I speak of spiritual light. It comes from God and his gospel. In the scriptures, we find reference to a relationship between the physical light of the sun and spiritual light. We read in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, of ‘the light of truth;

‘Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. …

‘And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

‘Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

‘The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed.” (D&C 88:6–7,11–13.) (Elder Ted E. Brewerton, Light.  Engsign Nov. 1991.)

Obedience is the key to Everything!

"Please note that knowledge is gained by obedience. It comes by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. In the ultimate and full sense it comes only by revelation from the Holy Ghost. There are some things a sinful man does not and cannot know." (The Seven deadlyHeresies.  Bruce R. McConkie.  Italicies added.)

Obedience brings knowledge and blessings.  Whenever we strive to obey the Lords commands he blesses us in many ways.  One particular way is when we humble ourselves the Lord will increase our strengths and remove our weaknesses:

Ether 12
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

    Sometimes that may be a removal of a barrier that's existed.  One such for me was basketball.  Basketball was always on the bottom of my like list (next to running); it was difficult, I always failed and I hated playing that game.

    On a P-day (preparation day, a day where we somewhat take a break from missionary work) a few months ago, we were playing a game of Lightning Revenge.  As I continued to shoot, I started to recognize what I wasn't doing right and that I needed to improve my trajectory.
    That's when basketball clicked for me!  I couldn't believe it, a sport I always despised suddenly became one of my favorite pastimes!  I wasn't perfect but I had a barrier removed and a desire to improve at this particular sport. 
   I believe that had I not been exactly obedient to everything the Lord commanded me to do I wouldn't have been able to over come that obstacle.  So if you strive to do your best and be obedient, then the Lord will help you through!