Continuing from the first post ‘Richard G. Scott, Principle 11 (now part 2):
But there is a second source of adversity: the testing that a wise Heavenly Father determines is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to His commandments. Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11-12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.
Often we have difficulty mastering lessons the Lord wants us to learn when things are going too well in our lives. When there is suffering and pain, pondering and prayer will help us understand what we are to learn from the challenges we are asked to overcome.
We see such a limited part of the eternal plan He has fashioned for each one of us. Trust Him, even when in eternal perspective it temporarily hurts very much. The path you are to walk through life may be very different from others. He may ask you to do things that are powerfully against your will. Exercise faith and say, Let Thy will be done. Such experiences, honorably met, prepare you and condition you for yet greater blessings. As your Father, His purpose is your eternal happiness, your continuing development, your increasing capacity. His desire is to share with you all that He has.
Have patience when you are asked to wait when you want immediate action. If all matters were immediately resolved at your first petition, you could not grow. You may not always know why your Father in Heaven does what He does, but you can know that He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful. He would have you suffer no consequence, face no challenge, endure no burden that is superfluous to your good. He would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for those you love.
True enduring happiness with the accompanying strength, courage and capacity to overcome the most challenging difficulties comes from a life centered in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a sure foundation upon which to build. That takes effort. There is no guarantee of overnight results, but there is absolute assurance that, in the Lord’s time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and emptiness will be filled. ~Richard G. Scott, 21 Principles, (Deseret Book: Salt Lake City, 2013), 54-56
