All Things Work Together for Good

Five things we can learn from the final hours of the Savior’s life to put our trials in perspective.

Sometimes we cause pain for our children because we know that the result will be worth the pain.

Third we must turn to the Savior more fervently in our trials.
Fourth, learn to serve and think of others even in the midst of our trial.

Each of us will face trials and tests, and as in this simplistic example, it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are. We are taught in the scriptures that there “must needs be . . . an opposition in all things.” We will each face times of difficulty, and the question is not when we will face them but how we face them.

Our trials come in many forms, but each will allow us to become more like the Savior as we learn to recognize the good that comes from each experience.

Now, I realize that it is much easier to look back when a trial is over and see what we have learned from our experience, but the challenge is to gain that eternal perspective while we are going through our tests. To some, our trials may not seem great, but to each of us who are passing through these experiences, the trials are real and require us to humble ourselves before God and learn from Him.

May I mention five things that we can learn from those last hours of the Savior’s life on earth that can help us to face our own trials.

1. He sought not to do His will but only the will of His Father.
2. When we are faced with trials, we must learn to not complain or murmur.
   • We must always attempt to correct the problem and overcome the trial, but instead of asking “Why me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” maybe the question should be “What am I to do? What can I learn from this experience? What am I to change?”
3. When we face our challenges, we must seek greater help from God.
   • We must remember that often the answers from our Heavenly Father do not remove the trial from us, but instead He helps strengthen us as we pass through the experience.
4. Learn to serve and think of others even in our times of trial.
5. Forgive others and do not seek to pass the blame of our situation to them.

As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become even more prayerful, let us serve others, and let us forgive one another. As we do this, all things will work together for good to us that love God.