Divers Ways

Have you ever come across the word "divers" in the scriptures and wondered why they left the "e" off the end? Most of us when reading aloud pronounce it "duh-VERSE," taking the meaning to be something along the lines of 'differing from one another; distinct,' since we know it's not referring to SCUBA. However, it's actually a distinct word from diverse, and means 'various, myriad, almost countless,' and is pronounced "DIE-verz."
Over the past couple of months I, Tussy, I mean Sister Norman, have become acquainted with one of the divers ways that our loving Heavenly Father allows us to learn. I began noticing with reluctance that the symptoms of my dormant ulcerative colitis were showing up, but reasoning that I was serving a mission so it would go away, I just ignored them. You know where this is going: not only did they not go away, they got debilitating. I received a comforting priesthood blessing and so continued on, having demanding work in the office. The point came where I had to go to a doctor, but even with medicine, and more medicine, I continued to get worse, unable to stay at the office for more than half a day.
During one of the afternoons when I was lying in our flat, having begged the Lord for a healing, and feeling true despair that I wasn't able to do what I had come to Hong Kong to do, a scripture came to mind. I rarely have something like that happen, so I looked in the Topical Guide to find where it was located, and read in D&C 42:61: "If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal." 
At first I felt I must have been imagining that it was inspiration, since that scripture seemed to refer to spiritual, not physical things. I'll admit I'm not very good at pondering, but with little energy to do anything else, I thought, and prayed for guidance. Over the course of the next days, I tried to see how I could apply the concepts in verse 61 to me, and concluded I needed to gain all the knowledge I could about what my body was going through. 
Meanwhile the doctor said I would need to begin a 6-12 month course of an immunosuppressant, Imuran, which requires frequent blood tests because it is so toxic, and injections of another powerful drug, Remicade, which must be given at a hospital, both of which have long lists of side effects. How would I be able to serve while having such drug therapy? So I stepped up my online research along with my prayers, feeling gratitude for Craig's ongoing support and help with the laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning since I wasn't able to do much beyond go into the office for part of each day. The temple matron had assured me she was keeping my name on the prayer roll, many people told me they were praying for me, and kind sisters brought meals and offered to help any way they could, sharing in my burden.
Then, while reading February's Ensign, I found an article with exactly what I needed to read, entitled of all things, "Finding Answers," by Joseph Fielding McConkie. The main theme of the article was even printed right below the title:


It is not the design of heaven that we be rescued from all difficult situations. Rather, it is the Lord’s will that we learn to handle them. 


In David M. McConkies' article a few pages later, he even quoted the scripture I had been impressed to look up, pointing out that we need to learn to listen to the Spirit. I had my answer. 
I began a food diary and noted my reactions to what I ate. I found hundreds of people's experiences online with eliminating certain foods, and eating beneficial things like yogurt and probiotics, so I have implemented those into my diet, and the Lord is blessing me with marked improvement! I told the doctor I would not begin any new drugs, and I am weaning off those I have been on. Heavenly Father didn't rescue me, but he provided for an unforgettable learning experience in one of the divers ways he shows love to us as his children, and it's difficult to convey the gratitude and humility I have now from something that began as a sore trial but has become a distinct blessing in my life.