ADVERSITY AND LETTING GOD PREVAIL

Adversity

    As part of Heavenly Father’s plan of redemption, all people experience adversity during their lifetime. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but with the help of the Lord they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress.

    Each person’s success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on his or her responses to the difficulties of life.

    Adversity comes from different sources. Trials may come as a consequence of a person’s own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when people are living righteously. For example, people may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices and hurtful words and actions. Suffering may also come through a loving Heavenly Father as a tutoring experience.

    When some people face adversity, they complain and become bitter. They ask questions like “Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to deserve this?” But these questions have the power to dominate their thoughts. Such questions can overtake their vision, absorb their energy, and deprive them of the experiences the Lord wants them to receive. Rather than responding in this way, people should consider asking questions such as “What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?”

    Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, people who are stricken with illness may simply need to be patient and faithful. People who suffer because of others’ words or actions should work toward forgiving those who have offended them. Victims of abuse should seek help immediately. If a person’s trials come because of disobedience, he or she should correct the behavior and humbly seek forgiveness.

    Although some of the responses to adversity will vary, one response should be constant—trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The prophet Alma taught, “Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”

    Each woman faces unique challenges, said Sister Spannaus, but “God has the power to make our suffering a sacred experience, and in our suffering, we come to know God and Jesus Christ better.”

    Loving friendships and words of modern-day prophets can also help provide Latter-day Saints with the comfort and acceptance needed to move through trials. Moving through trials is not the end goal, however; becoming a better person is truly what Christ wants. 

    “Every trial that we overcome or faithfully endure makes us more beautiful inside — a better person, a better child of God, a better friend, a better human being. This is the intention of God’s plan; these experiences will shape us if we let them.”

    In the BYU Women's 2024 afternoon conference address given by General Relief Society  President Camille Johnson, she invites us to find the Savior through our challenges, and with Him, love and peace. That you may be able to say, “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever” (2 Nephi 4:34). How powerful it is to trust our God.”

    President Nelson has said, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” Maintaining the presence of the Spirit requires effort, energy, prayer, scripture study, study of the words of living prophets, preparation for partaking of the sacrament, repentance, and personal acts of daily devotion. That, sisters, is how we will get our answers!

    When we prioritize daily acts of devotion to Heavenly Father and the Savior—including prayer, and study of the scriptures and the words of living prophets, we invite the Spirit to be our constant companion.  Then, we will receive answers and direction for our lives, and clarity of thought.  

    Please take note, I am not saying that letting God prevail and having the companionship of the Spirit will make your path one of ease. We are ascending. It is an uphill climb. There will be stretching moments, or stretching days, months, and years. This isn’t about comfort, it’s about growth, change, embracing our divine nature, and becoming like the Savior. 

     Sisters, I invite you to cultivate your testimony of foundational truth. Yes, it requires effort, but as we understand and embrace foundational truth, our desire to let God prevail in our lives will increase. We will invite Jesus Christ to be the author and finisher of our faith and of our stories.  Letting God prevail does include inviting Him to be involved in the timing of our choices.

    Remember, when we ask in faith to let Jesus Christ be the author and finisher of our story, we must be prepared to play out an uncomfortable narrative, in the hope of one that is, while painful, ultimately grander and more celestial than we can imagine.

    Ask God, "do you love me? …..tell me in a way I can understand". Camille N. Johnson

Two great commandments allows God to prevail. 

1) Love of god

2) Love of our neighbor.

     Study scriptures daily. Pray and study scriptures daily without fail. Make it top priority.  We need the constant companion of the spirit.  Cultivate testimony of foundational truth. Understand and embrace foundational truth. The spirit will increase and our connection with the lord will be strengthened. 

(Experiment upon the prophets words:)

*Exercise Faith 

*Plant their words in your heart 

*They will enlarge your soul 

*They will enlighten your understanding 

*Keep nourishing the seedling even if it is drop by drop

*The seedling will grow fruit

*The words will become delicious to you 

    Trials are the elements of the plot that make our stories compelling. Your part is crucial in building up the kingdom of God. 

Invite Christ to author your story. 

Manifestations of the spirit is like the Saviors hand helping author your story. 

The Savior knows us perfectly and will take us to places unimaginable. Soul stretching. 

    May you continue to see Christ's light in all things.  When trials come, and they will, seek for ways to let God prevail in your life.