As a follow-up to my earlier blog, “Humbled or Picked On,” I’d like to share this scripture:
2 Nephi 2:11 — For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, . . . righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
What astonishes me is how few Latter-day Saints truly understand the need for trials. We know that we were sent here to learn and grow, and that we must go through trials in order to accomplish these things. And yet, the question is raised at an almost alarming rate, “Why me? I’m a good person. Why is this happening to me?” The answer is simply this – the Lord wants to see just how good you’ll continue to be.
Being righteous isn’t a failsafe against temptation and struggle. We’re still going to be tempted and we’re still going to be tried. Our righteousness will help us withstand our challenges, but in no way will it keep us wrapped up in cotton. God doesn’t want cotton-wrapped Saints. He wants us to come to Him with a little sweat on our brows, having worked hard and won the good fight.
Look again at the scripture, particularly the line, “If not so, . . . righteousness could not be brought to pass.” God’s work would be for nothing if there was no opposition. We must go through the trials of this life in order to attain all that He has for us. Do we truly expect to gain the riches of eternity after a lifetime of ease and having things our own way all the time? I think we can all agree, that would be a pretty unrealistic expectation.
The next time a trial comes our way, let’s not whine and say, “Why me?” Let’s instead raise our chins and say, “Here it comes.” You will never escape from trials in this life. You can’t hide from them. The best thing, and really the only thing, is to face them, conquer them, and do it all with God at your side.
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