Our success and happiness are determined by how we choose to react to trials.
By Heavenly Father’s eternal design, mortality wasn’t meant to be easy. Though trials may weigh us down, we can face them with confidence as we look to Christ.
The challenge? To have an eternal perspective in the midst of a trial.
Elder James B. Martino teaches us five things that can help us become more Christlike in our adversities and find more joy in the journey.
1. Have an eternal perspective
Christ always did the will of his Father (Matthew 26:42). Heavenly Father knows the past, present, and future; we must follow the Savior’s example and trust in him.
Photo by Matt Sclarandis.
2. Don’t murmur
Perhaps instead of asking, “Why me?” we should ask, “What can I learn from this experience? How can I make this situation better?” This change of attitude can turn trials into blessings. (See the importance of a good attitude in 1 Nephi 16:20-31.
3. Pray more earnestly
Heavenly Father may not remove our trials, but he will strengthen us as we turn to him (2 Nephi 32:9). Choose to be more earnest and sincere rather than bitter or resentful in your prayers.
4. Serve others
Follow the Savior’s example of service. “When we serve others, we forget our own problems and . . . strengthen ourselves,” says Elder Martino (See also Mosiah 2:17).
5. Forgive
The Savior forgave even those who crucified him. Could we do the same? (Remember the importance of forgiveness described in D&C 64:10.)
When we do these things, we have God’s promise that “all things [will] work together for good to [us] that love God” (Romans 8:28).
Elder Martino reminds us that “We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from the experience.”
Read or watch Elder Martino’s address to learn more about how to be Christlike during trials.
Source: LDS General Conference
—Kayci Treu Kirkham, Mormon Insights Contributor
FEATURE IMAGE BY LEIO MCLAREN
Find more insights
Read “A Pattern for Living” for an interview with Elder L. Tom Perry on the 2004 mutual theme: “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good” (D&C 90:24).
Read or watch “All Things Shall Work Together for Your Good” by Susan W. Tanner to remember that trials are for our benefit.
Read these other Mormon Insights articles to help you make the most out of hard times:
Pingback: Understanding the Gift of Pain - Latter-day Saint Insights