Physical or emotional suffering from a variety sources has been, is now, or will be part of your life.
- Suffering does not mean God is displeased with your life.
- Heavenly Father is intimately aware of your suffering.
- Jesus Christ offers His enabling power to help you endure it well.
- Choose to find joy each day.
How can suffering, especially suffering caused by someone else misusing agency, bring us closer to eternal life?
How can you possibly endure the unique and sometimes debilitating suffering that comes to each of us?
Gratefully, hope is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and hope can also be part of your life.
The work of God is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. But how can trials and suffering—especially suffering imposed by another person’s sinful use of agency—ultimately advance God’s work?
Regardless of the source of suffering our perfect Savior can turn it to our benefit if we turn to Him. Just because it was caused by the sinful use of agency by someone else does not mean that the Savior cannot use it for our growth.
Whatever the cause of your sufferings, your loving Heavenly Father can direct them to refine your soul. Refined souls can bear others’ burdens with true empathy and compassion. Refined souls who have come “out of great tribulation” are prepared to joyfully live in God’s presence forever.
I fear that too many Church members think if they are just a little tougher, they can get through any suffering on their own. This is a hard way to live. Your temporary moment of strength can never compare to the Savior’s infinite supply of power to fortify your soul.
We should not try to simply endure whatever comes our way any more than we should expect those suffering around us to make do with just barely enough (time, money, energy, emotional strength) for the moment. We should always be looking for ways to thrive not just survive both for ourselves and others.
“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.
Russell M. Nelson
“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.”
This is one of the most applicable situations for that quote.
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