What I Was Misunderstanding about the Saviour

By Jordan Winkle

When my illness lasted longer than expected, I learnt that I don’t have to face trials alone.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, I was one of the first people infected with COVID-19 in my area in Scotland. At first I thought it was a simple cold. But as time went on, my health progressively got worse, until even breathing was a struggle. My throat and sinuses were badly damaged, and I suffered from chronic fatigue.

Recovery was ongoing for over a year and a half, during which time I was unable to participate in any sport or physical activity. I had to put everything on pause. I even dropped out of university for a year, and I became very bitter—bitter about my circumstances and angry at Heavenly Father when recovery seemed unattainable.

We Are Stronger with Jesus Christ

Despite my mindset, I continued living the gospel. I continued going to church and doing what I could to help and serve others. Gradually, my state of mind started improving.

When the worst of the symptoms started dissipating, I got an unexpected call to serve on my stake high council. Despite my apprehension, I accepted the call with the hope that the Lord would provide a way for me to fulfil the call despite my poor health (see 1 Nephi 3:7).

One of the first assignments I received was to speak about the Saviour and His Atonement. With every talk I gave to other followers of Jesus Christ, my understanding of Him and what He did for me grew. I realised I’d been ignoring a vital part of His Atonement—the Lord suffered and died not only for our sins but for our afflictions. He knows how to uplift us in our trials (see Alma 7:12).

President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, recently taught:

“Jesus Christ can lighten our load.

“Jesus Christ can lift our burdens.

“Jesus Christ provides a way for us to be relieved of the weight of sin.

“Jesus Christ is our relief. ...

“… I can’t go at it alone, and I don’t need to, and I won’t. Choosing to be bound to my Savior, Jesus Christ, through the covenants I have made with God, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ [Philippians 4:13].”¹

I’m also prone to relying upon my own strength, and in my pride I really had thought I could overcome my trial alone. But I came to realise that I wasn’t failing because the trial was too hard; it was because I wasn’t allowing Jesus Christ to offer me His strength and support.

Finally understanding what He offers me through His healing power changed everything. Although my road to recovery wasn’t going to be easy or quick, I could find peace, joy, and strength along the way by turning to Him.

Deepening Our Relationship with Christ

We don’t have to face any trials alone. We can rely upon our Saviour for strength. I realised that the spiritual hardship I felt during my sickness came from my lack of understanding in my relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what strength They could provide me with as I continued to serve, seek, and follow Them.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, gave a powerful reminder of our relationship with the Saviour when he said: “He … knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement. And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us—to give us the strength to bear it all.”²

Fortunately, the Lord pushed me to be more active in the pursuit of understanding Him. And as I’ve come to understand Him better, I’ve been able to see His hand in my life in greater abundance and see miracles of healing, even if it has taken longer than anticipated. As President Johnson also taught, “Covenant keepers are blessed with the Savior’s relief.”³

Increasing my understanding of the Saviour and keeping my covenants has been a huge blessing in my life. He has given me so much spiritual and temporal relief from my hardships. I can promise that as you strive to do the same, the love of the Lord and your divine purpose will become clear. You’ll find strength beyond your own—as I have.

4 Ways I Deepened My Relationship with the Saviour

When my illness limited what I could do, I found a few actions that helped me better connect with the Saviour. Here are some suggestions to try if you’re looking for a deeper connection:

Connect with others. The pandemic showed me how important it is to connect with others, especially with those who lift our spirits and support our faith. Though getting together with other Saints can be difficult in some areas, the fruits of such endeavours will always outweigh the efforts. There is strength in community, especially when you share testimonies and insights of the Saviour and His gospel!
Don’t forget the scriptures! Scripture study really does help! I drew closer to the Saviour and deepened my understanding as I studied, especially when reading the accounts of Christ’s life and teachings. The scriptures testify of the Saviour, what He has done for us, and all He has in store for us.
Accept every opportunity to serve. I’ve always drawn comfort from 1 Nephi 3:7: “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them.” With every opportunity I’ve accepted, my capacity to take on responsibility has grown beyond what I ever thought it would. The Lord wants us to grow, and when opportunities arrive, we can prayerfully accept them and allow Him to guide us.
Remember the importance of perspective. Without an eternal perspective, understanding your current circumstances and trials can seem like fruitless suffering. However, as we remember the eternal blessings Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ offer us and continue to turn to Them, we will have the strength to bear our challenges.