From the book “In the Arms of His Love, Steven A. Cramer writes:
The Prophet Joseph Smith seldom complained about the incredible difficulty and opposition he encountered. But after suffering many long months of cold, lonely and unjust punishment in Liberty Jail, he finally spoke that woeful prayer of “Why” that we often repeat in our own adversities. In reply the Lord taught Joseph the principle that God has power to bring good from every circumstance, no matter how undesirable it may seem. “My son,” the Lord replied, “peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine adversities shall be but a small moment,” and “know though, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good.” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:7, 122:7.)
This principle is important to our own faith because Satan continually uses adversity as a wedge between us and the Lord. “How could you possibly think that God loves you or cares about you when he allowed this to happen to you? he challenges. We will not crumble before these satanic taunts if we remember that one of the important reasons we came to this mortal school was to gain “experience.” Our bond with the Lord will be further strengthened if we remember his sacred unwavering promise to watch over and influence our affairs so that all things shall work together for our good.”(Doctrine & Covenants 105:40.) The Lord is so committed to this promise that He has repeated it many times. For example, “We know that all things work together for our good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his promise.” (Romans 8:28.) And again, let your hearts be comforted; for all these things shall work together for good to them that walketh uprightly.” (Doctrine & Covenants 100:15.)
Perhaps the greatest tests of this promise are the unjust adversities that afflict man even when he is trying to live in harmony with the commandments. That is why it is so important to know that Christ is a God of power, and that He delights in manifesting his power by changing our misfortunes into blessings. The way we may rise above the difficulties which turn many to bitterness and anger with God is to remember that God never leaves us alone. He actually goes through the afflictions with us so that He may convert them to our good. “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.: (Doctrine & Covenants 24:8.)
By understanding the degree to which Christ is involved in the affairs of this mortal world, we realize there is absolutely nothing that is not under His control. “He is before all things, and by all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17) And because he is involved in every circumstance that affects our progress toward exaltation, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons.”(Doctrine & Covenants 88:42.) To ensure that His laws are obeyed and that nothing can happen to us which He cannot turn to our good, He has assured us that “I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things.(Doctrine & Covenants 63:59)
So total is his searching and understanding of every experience of mortality that “in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be made a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God.” (Hebrews 2:17). It was for this reason, to experience every difficulty and sorrow that we may face, “that he descended below all things, [so] that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth.”(Doctrine & Covenants 88:6; see also 122:8) Now that He has experienced mortality and risen to immortality and perfection, there is nothing beyond the reach of His power and influence because “he comprehendeth and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; he is above all through things and in all things, and is round about all things, (Doctrine & Covenants 88:41) How could the scriptures state any plainer that Jesus Christ truly is the God of all things?
We are told that one of the joys in the Millennium will be the privilege of looking back over the events of our past by which we struggled to prepare ourselves to return to our Father’s presence. And we are told that one of the surprises we will have is just how intimately Christ was involved with our sorrows, though we may not have recognized it at the time
And now the year of my redeemed is come; and they shall mention the loving kindness of their Lord, that he has bestowed upon them according to his goodness and according to his loving kindness for ever and ever.
In all their afflictions he was afflicted. . . and in His love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old. (Doctrine & Covenants 133:5-53)
Because Christ does carry and support us through our trials, even when we may not be immediately aware of it, we are told that “in nothing doth man offend God . . . save those who confess not his hand in all things.” (Doctrine & Covenants 59:21.) Let us learn to look for His hand. Let us learn to view our difficulties as the opportunities that they really are, opportunities to draw closer to the Lord as we experience the power of his hand in bringing good out of all things.
The foolish believer stares despondently at his or her circumstances, The present situation seems to the foolish to be hopeless, and the grim realities of life block every prospect of relief.
But to the wise, the ultimate reality is God—not the present circumstance. The God of Gideon, who can put great armies to flight with a handful of men, is not limited by our circumstances. (Larry Richards,) When it Hurts Too Much to Wait, Carmel, New York:Guideposts Books, 1985, 35.)
And I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them. (Doctrine and Covenants 111:11)
Steven A. Cramer, The Arms of His Love (Covenant Communications, Inc. (American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications Inc. 2007) p. 71-73