From his book, ‘The Meek and Lowly’ Neal A. Maxwell wrote:
“The need for meekness is there in every setting, at every turn, and in every step!
Throughout scripture we encounter the need for us to remember that the Lord has His own timetable for unfolding things; it will not always accord with our schedules or wants. When, in our extremities we urgently call for divine response there may be instead divine delay. This is not because, at the moment, He is inattentive or loves us less than perfectly. Rather, it is because we are being asked, at the moment, to endure more for the welfare of our souls. The blessed meek understand that God loves them even when they may not be able to explain the meaning of what is happening to them or around them. (1 Nephi 11:17.)
Divine mercy is always operative. It may even cause God to hasten things. Jesus declared, for instance, that except the tribulations of the last days “should be shortened” for the sake of the very elect, no flesh shall be saved. (Matthew 24:22) When the full heat of the sun comes, “summer is nigh” (Matthew 24:32), and the enveloping events will be blistering.
The Lord can hasten His work “in it’s time.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:73; Isaiah 60:22). Generally speaking, however, there is a divinely determined pace at which things will move. Even God’s revelations come “in their time.” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:4) Moreover, though we may wish for swift judgment on the Lord’s enemies, such will not always be dealt out when we might prefer; nevertheless, the Lord’s enemies will be “confounded in their own due time.” (Doctrine & Covenants 71:10) The meek are patient.
If there were too much swiftness, there could be no long suffering, no gradual soul stretching, no repenting. With too little time to absorb, to assimilate, and to apply that which has already been given, our capacities would not be fully developed. The developing and testing of our faith and patience require time. The timing of the Second Coming is not even known by the angels in heaven, an otherwise well-informed group. (Matthew 24:6.)
“For He will give unto the faithful, line upon line, precept upon precept; and . . . will try you and prove you herewith.” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:12) “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more, and from him that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken even that which they have.” (2 Nephi 28:30.)
It takes time to prepare for eternity.
Furthermore, divine justice requires the record be made clear, so far as our chances for changing are concerned. Even God’s enemies are given such opportunities, which are usually rejected at great cost to themselves and others. Everything from stark betrayal to “playing to the galleries” by those seeking the praise of the world will be on the record, indisputably.
Individuals who thus excuse themselves from joy do so by measurable and on-the-record acts of free will. These acts are, alas, demonstrably adverse to their own interest. We are, “according to the flesh,” free to choose (2 Nephi 2:27), free to act for ourselves, or we can merely wait passively to be acted upon: “And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whoso perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.”(Helaman 14:30. See also 2 Nephi 10:23.) ~Neal A. Maxwell, Meek and Lowly (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987). 89-91
