We don’t have to wait until the storm is over to find joy. Amy A. Wright gives us four anchors to help in this process.
November 2024 marked the beginning of a dark time for me. I was battling seasonal depression and wondering when I would overcome the obstacles that were keeping me from feeling joy. But I reflected back on the principles that Sister Amy A. Wright taught in her BYU devotional “The Divine Pattern of Deliverance.” She explains that we can be strengthened in our trials so that we may find joy during our trials, not only after the fact.
Using the story of the apostle Paul, Sister Wright shares four anchors we can rely on through our storms:
- Choosing good friends
- Trusting Jesus Christ
- Following the prophet
- Believing God
I tried to apply these principles in my life. As Sister Wright observed about Paul the Apostle, I knew that “the companionship of [my] noble friends undoubtedly strengthened [me].” I was also following the prophet’s direction to the best of my ability. But I was confused that she had separated “trust Jesus Christ” and “believe God.” I didn’t understand why she made a distinction between the two or what these principles had to do with finding joy in trials.
First, relating to trusting Christ, Sister Wright quotes President Jeffrey R. Holland, telling us that, “Christ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them. But . . . he expects us to believe!” Jesus Christ knows our struggles personally. He doesn’t expect us not to struggle. But he does expect us to trust in his plan. He expects us to trust in his goodness.
Second, God also expects us to believe him, not only to believe in him. He expects us to believe that he will keep his promises, and to believe that, as Sister Wright says, “He knows us. He loves us. And He has a plan for us.”
By both trusting in Jesus Christ and believing God, we can remember two important things in our trials: that Jesus knows exactly how hard our trials are, and that God has promised he will bless us immeasurably. When life gets hard, I invite you to remember those two things. It won’t make the trials go away, but it will give you anchors to hold on to as you ride out the storm.
Read and watch Sister Amy A. Wright’s speech to learn more about her four anchors: “The Divine Pattern of Deliverance.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Ellie Taylor, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY JPLENIO
Find more insights
Read President Nelson’s advice on “Embracing the Future with Faith.”
Take a look at another article about facing the future with uncertainty: “Trust in God’s Plan for You.”
Read Jeffrey R Holland’s talk on hope through Christ: “An High Priest of Good Things to Come.”