The way we face our trials contributes to how happy and successful we are. But how do we face trials that seem impossible to overcome?
Photo by Matt Howard
We all experience disappointment, sadness, sickness, and heartache. Why would a loving Heavenly Father want us to face such adversity? He does not give us trials because he wants us to fail; he gives us trials because he knows we can overcome them.
But how can we love our trials when they seem unbearable? In a general conference address, “Come What May, and Love It,” Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin remembers the words his mother told him when he was faced with sorrow. He advises, “If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness.” As we face our trials, do all we can, and leave the rest to the Lord, the Lord provides and we become stronger. We are not asked to bear trials with a grin; rather, we are asked to bear trials knowing that the Lord is on our side.
Elder Wirthlin counsels us to remember four things that helped him through testing times:
- Learn to laugh.
- Seek for the eternal perspective.
- Understand the principle of compensation.
- Put our trust in the Father and the Son.
Trials and adversity will never be easy, but when we implement Elder Wirthlin’s suggestions into our lives, our burdens can become a little lighter. By remembering to see the good in the world around us, we can endure our trials. We can say, as Elder Wirthlin’s mother did: “Come what may, and love it.”
To learn more about how Heavenly Father can help us through our trials, read or watch Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin’s talk, “Come What May, and Love It.”
Source: LDS General Conference
—Cynthia Chan, Mormon Insights
feature image by davide cantelli
Find more insights
Read or watch Elder Jeffrey R. Holland‘s general conference address “Like a Broken Vessel” and listen to his advice on how best to respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love.
Discover Elder Neil L. Andersen‘s perspective on trials in his conference talk “Overcoming the World,” which explains his belief that overcoming the world is not a single moment but a lifetime of moments that define an eternity.
I love this talk by Elder Wirthlin! What a great example of how we can endure through all of life’s trials with a positive attitude.
So true. There have been times when I just can’t learn to laugh or bear my trials with a smile, but keeping an eternal perspective has ALWAYS helped, at least a little bit.