Bruce C. Hafen wrote:
It is both possible and likely that the closer we come to Christ, the more will be aware of what we yet need to do. He said, “If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. . . . if they humble themselves before me, . . . then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27; emphasis added).
So if we are becoming more aware of our weaknesses, that doesn’t mean we are drifting away from Him; it may well mean that we are drawing closer. Like a good coach, a good tutor will always help his students see and correct their mistakes. When we understand that, correction is motivation, not discouraging. For because of the Atonement, we can learn from our mistakes without being condemned by them.
The paradox of this divine tutorial is that the Lord will not only correct us but may also lead us into some forms of personal affliction. Because Elder Maxwell was such a faithful student of discipleship, I draw again from his words: “If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are most difficult for us to do.” Thus.”sometimes the best people have the worst experiences because they are the most ready to learn. ~Bruce C.Hafen, From the book, ‘A Year of Powerful Prayer’, Deseret Book Company: Salt Lake City, 2013) 302-303
