Faith in the Giver of Blessings

When our faith is placed not in blessings but in the God who gives them, we will find strength to withstand our trials.

Three young men found God in a furnace. Thrown into the flames for sustaining their religion, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego grasped for faith with their words, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.…  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods” (Daniel 3:17–18, emphasis added).

In Brother Jeffrey S. McClellan’s 2018 BYU devotional, “Thy Troubles to Bless,” he clarifies the phrase but if not, emphasizing that the young men would have faith in God, whatever path he chose to take them down. Brother McClellan states clearly, “We are not commanded to have faith in blessings but in the Giver of blessings.”

Prayerful pleadings may feel ignored, expected blessings may not always come, and faith can seem futile when all our hoping doesn’t bring our desired outcome. But we shouldn’t place our faith in the fulfillment of blessings. Our faith, however much we can muster, will never fail us if we place it entirely in the hands of God.

Despite the pain we may endure for a season, our Redeemer never asks us to do something he wouldn’t be willing to walk with us through. Even in the fire of our afflictions, God stands with us and asks only for faith in him.

Read or watch Jeffrey S. McClellan’s full BYU speech, “Thy Troubles to Bless,” to understand how the gospel is still true even in our darkest hours when our faith seems inadequate.

Source: BYU Speeches

—Brooklyn Hughes, Latter-day Saint Insights

FEATURE IMAGE BY DUONG NHAN

Find More Insights

Check out Hayley Roper’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “You Can Find Peace Amid Mental Health Trials” for more resources to strengthen your faith.

Read or listen to Elder Jeffery R. Holland’s general conference talk “Like a Broken Vessel” for insights into how we can receive help when life seems dark.