Enduring Trials
Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Elder Ulisses Soares: Very good. Thank you. Let us now see the questions related to “enduring trials.”
GHANA—QUESTION 7
Elder Soares, I would like to know why it’s always difficult when it comes to exercising faith in hard times.
CHILE CONCEPCIÓN—QUESTION 8
Hello, Elder Soares. My question is the following: How would you help someone who has suffered so much in their life that it seems they have never received the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
SPAIN BILBAO—QUESTION 2
Elder Soares, in the Church we have worthy young people who have been able to serve missions and who continue to serve both in the Church and in the community. But notwithstanding their service, they have not been able to see the promised blessings. What would you say to those young people whose journey on earth has not been as blessed as they were promised it would be?
Elder Soares: Thank you very much for those extraordinary questions. Well, a very common misunderstanding among many of us is that if we strive with all our might to follow the Lord’s will, living a righteous life, nothing bad will happen to us. When we accepted our Heavenly Father’s plan prior to mortality, we knew that we would experience joy as well as tests and trials during our journey through mortal life. Going through these sometimes difficult circumstances is part of our learning process in order to qualify to return to our Heavenly Father’s presence. So the truth is that we will face adversities in our life regardless of how righteous we are. On the other hand, the consequences of good actions will certainly come but sometimes not immediately. These blessings may come at a different timetable than ours and according to the will of the Father who, in His wisdom and omniscience, knows what we need and what is best for us in this life.
So one of the most important things we can do when we face adversity in mortal life is to turn our heart and trust to the Savior. As we do so, we will not only find the comfort we seek but also gain an increased faith and testimony of the reality of the Savior and His Atonement. Christ suffered pains, afflictions, and temptations of every kind so He could be filled with mercy and know how to succor us according to our infirmities. The Savior can, better than anyone else, heal the effects of any challenging circumstances of mortality. On certain occasions, we may not be immediately healed physically from our pain or sickness, but we can be spiritually healed as we receive strength, understanding, and patience to bear the burdens placed upon us. So as we turn our heart to our Savior, He will work wonders in our lives.
Another point to consider is that we can look at our trials and tests as opportunities to grow instead of allowing ourselves to feel weighed down by them. I assure you, my friends, that acting in this manner can give us opportunities to show the Lord and ourselves that we can and will do all the things that the Lord has commanded us to do—and to grow closer to things of eternal worth despite our circumstances. He knows that we can do hard things! He gives us a lot of power.
As taught by Elder Orson F. Whitney, one of the Apostles of the Restoration: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility, … [and] when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”
My friends, developing patience helps us to look at life from an eternal perspective, and it becomes a healing influence on our soul. By learning through our own experience, we can gain empathy and compassion for others and can be of help in lifting them in their moments of difficulty.
Dear, do you want to comment on this important matter?
Sister Rosana Soares: Yes, dear. There are people who react differently to the same challenges or constant suffering.
Some of them think they are being refined in the hands of our Supreme Creator, who is our God. Other ones think that the Lord has forgotten about them and always ask “Why?” before these circumstances. Others act with patience and faith in Jesus Christ and are able to see and accept the will of the Lord to help them in order to spiritually heal their soul. We are here on earth to learn and grow. Little by little, we will see the fruits of our efforts; we just have to keep going and be patient. It was never easy, and that is why we have our Savior Jesus Christ!
Elder Soares: Thank you, dear. Very insightful comments.
Some of our challenges are results of the conditions of mortality, and they will not continue into the next life. Today we may not be able to adequately grasp all the reasons for our challenges or the opportunities they will give us to grow. As we patiently endure in righteousness, the Lord may reveal to us greater understanding about our trials and the purpose of them in our lives.