posted
I worry--not constantly, but frequently--about impending trials. It seems like I have no real, big trials at present. I can't say I ever really have. Is my life charmed? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. What's my 'Abraham & Isaac'?
Posts: 5737 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I always thought that the Lord blessed people in two ways. One: to be free from troubles at that particular time so they could help those who did have troubles... and 2: blessed those who did have troubles for providing that opportunity to others to learn and to gain wisdom from the experiences of the suffering. IT does prepare you for the time when the tables turn and your adversity comes. Be grateful for this time of peace for you never know ( like you said ) when the other shoe will drop... Service to those who are suffering prepares us in wisdom without the fear. But again it is all in your perspective. I know my Mother has had some extreme difficulties and has never complained or worried about them. She just goes about life with happiness despite the troubles that have come periodically through out her life. And at 83 years old ( not sick a day in her life) I believe that it is this joyful attitude that has kept her healthy and strong. You cant live in fear... the fear and worry will kill you long before your trials will.
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Once I was in the valley known as Hebron, now beautifully fruitful and where tradition has it, there is a tomb to father Abraham. As I approached the place with Elder Hugh B. Brown, I asked, "What are the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?" Elder Brown thought a moment and answered in one word, "Posterity." Then I almost burst out, "Why, then was Abraham commanded to go to Mount Moriah and offer his only hope of posterity?" It was clear that this man, nearly ninety, had thought and prayed and wept over that question before. He finally said, "Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham."
Posts: 24 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Abraham's big test wasn't until he was around 100 years old. So, don't worry if it hasn't happened yet. In retrospect, those hundred years were part of the test for Abraham. They were preparing his faith and patience for the culminating test of offering his son to God.
This "peaceful" time you are now experiencing may be your preparatory time for the big test. Use it wisely.
Posts: 3493 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Yes, I am starting to worry a bit. Not enough to be a problem but enough to be extra alert and aware. As soon as we set our temple date, everyone has been telling us how bad things are about to get. They say we will start fighting or get in a car accident or lose our jobs or something. At first I just accepted it as counsel but now that 20 people have said it, I am getting pretty nervous.
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If you worry about your worrying, if you worry most of the time, if you worry when things are going well as well as when they are not, you may have generalized anxiety disorder. There are medications for this. Talk to your Doctor.
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lol! we got in a car accident on the way to the temple to get my wife's (uh, girlfriend at the time) endowments. Itwasn't serious but she was shaken-up and knocked around enough to be in a wheel-chair for that session.
BTW, we were hit by a mercedes which was TOTALLED in the accident, while we drove away in our damaged but still running car to try not to be late to the temple. The Lord does protect us in amazing ways. And what were we driving to total a mercedes? Ford Festiva! I kid you not... the Lord does protect us in amazing ways...
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posted
Isn't it interesting how our own unchecked emotions and Satan's efforts erode our happiness. And isn't interesting to see how often the casual comment of one becomes the mountain of another. I would wager, for instance, that most people who have spoken about obstacles that impeded temple attendance did so to testify about the importance of going there, and/or what they learned from letting all those little things prevent their attendance. I doubt any of them thought for a moment that all those little stories would become a source of worrry to someone who was not experiencing those same challenges.
It is safe to say that not everyone experiences opposition in their temple attendance, and worrying about whether one is will or won't is as distracting as the actual obstacle would be. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and faith means that we don't need to worry, that whatever happens we will deal with successfully. If our personality is to worry, then working on developing that knowledge, skill, and faith that no obstacle will prevent our happiness because with God we can and will get through whatever comes is really our challenge.
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posted
When my husband received his patriarchal blessing I remember sitting there thinking “OK we are in for it” My husband was told to read Job often and fallow Jobs example. It has been that way since. There use to be people at our old base that said if it were to rain caca on a family it would be ours. There have been times people wonder how we get though the trails we have had and we always answer though the Lords help. These things for now have passed and we revel in the peace in our lives knowing it could rain any day now. We have been triad and tested and we know to lean heavily on the gospel when times are bad.
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Also realize that for some people, their trials don't come in huge, breaking-point agonies. For some, their biggest trials are BECAUSE of their relative safety and security. Can you avoid becoming complacent and oriented toward the bare minimum if your life allows you to coast? Or can you keep in touch with the fire of the Spirit? Questions like those, from the trials of "the good life," are as much a part of the refiner's fire as momentous personal calamities are.
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posted
Just to clarify, my worries aren't all that severe. I mostly look over my shoulder a bit when I read about others' difficult trials and count my own blessings.
quote: Can you avoid becoming complacent and oriented toward the bare minimum if your life allows you to coast? Or can you keep in touch with the fire of the Spirit?
This is one thing I take seriously. I've wondered the same thing. If the test isn't so much the end as enduring to the end. I try to be careful.
Truly, I'll worry for a little while then move on. I've never been all that good at sustaining negative emotions (anger, worry, fear, etc.) over a long period of time--too much effort. I posted the question as a matter of curiosity since I've had the same thought at many times in my life. Thanks all for your thoughts.
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posted
I used to be scared for the same reason Euphrasie mentioned - I had such a smooth life and nothing really challenging had happened. Then The Bad Thing happened, and I crashed and burned. Now I am picking up pieces. And you know what? I'm not scared anymore. The worst is over, I flunked the test, and now I'm totally dependent on the grace of God for any salvation or any good that comes out of this whole mess.
What I was really afraid of was that I wouldn't pass my test with flying colors. Now that I found out I was right about being so weak, I don't have to keep up an image anymore, not even for myself.
Aaaahhh, the end of worry is hitting rock bottom and finding out the light of Christ reaches that far.
Posts: 4767 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I'm scared we're not going to make rent this month. I'm scared one of us will get sick or injured or my asthma will flare up and we'll be stuck with huge medical bills because we don't have insurance. I'm scared that my husband will not be able to find a better job than he has right now. But those all seem like reasonable fears to me, so, sorry. I wish I had some insight to share with you. Posts: 8147 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
The thing to keep in mind is that this life is to prepare us for an eternal life. The most difficult lesson I had to learn was to trust the Lord, to understand how dependent I am on Him. After He humbled me and I quit fighting it, He has begun to mold me. At first I could not see it, but as He has taught me more and I look back I can see how dumb I really was. It makes it easier to learn and to follow now.
As Paul said, we receive no witness until after the trial of our faith. Once we have this, we have a clearer understanding of why and where we are going.
Think of these experiences as opportunities to grow. Think of them as the Lord being mindful of you. In Hebrews Paul stated:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with csons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
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quote: I used to be scared for the same reason Euphrasie mentioned - I had such a smooth life and nothing really challenging had happened. Then The Bad Thing happened, and I crashed and burned. Now I am picking up pieces. And you know what? I'm not scared anymore. The worst is over, I flunked the test, and now I'm totally dependent on the grace of God for any salvation or any good that comes out of this whole mess.
What I was really afraid of was that I wouldn't pass my test with flying colors. Now that I found out I was right about being so weak, I don't have to keep up an image anymore, not even for myself.
Aaaahhh, the end of worry is hitting rock bottom and finding out the light of Christ reaches that far.
You didn't flunk the test. If you're able to go through trials and hit rock bottom and still find and utilize the light of Christ in your life, that's passing.
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I think the Lord knows us individually and tests us all differently you know? Some of us might be proudful and arrogant and he has ways of humbling us. Some of us are too humble and don't have any self-esteem and I think he sends us people (Angels) in our lives, to help us with our self-esteem.
My sister and I were talking just tonight on family members who are very prideful because they all have big homes and nice incomes and think they are better than the rest of us so won't associate with us. I told her the Lord has a well of humbling such people.
I had another sister who used to make fun of fat people all the time and always pointing fingers at them. We reap what we sow so... When she got older she put on a few pounds and now she doesn't have alot to say about fat people because she knows what it is like to be overweight. The Lord does humble us doesn't he in his own due time!
Do I worry about things? Yeah, I worry about having enough strength and courage to make it another day but somehow the good Lord helps me to survive it! Posts: 1014 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I think what Janey said was profound, in the style of the classic Christian paradoxes (lose your life to save it, etc.).
We all think that we need to pass the test -- to prove ourselves to be self-reliant, strong, and worthy on our own.
When really, God sends us some trials in order so that we WILL flunk. So that we'll realize, "I can't do this alone." So we'll finally get it through our thick skulls that none of us, not one, can do it on our own steam. We are all fallen; we are all sinful; we all need to rely on the Savior.
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posted
I think what Nshumate said rings true to me. I read the words of "Be Thou Humble" at LDS.org tonight. The words, "Be thou humble in thy weakness and ....." really touched me.
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Euphrasie, I feel like I can totally relate to what you are feeling. I've remarked often that I must not have enough faith, because I live in fear of the things I might have to go through if I *really* trust God and *really* follow him--though I know I will be far better for having that trust. It's this stubborn, rebellious part of me, but also very, very scared.
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quote:As soon as we set our temple date, everyone has been telling us how bad things are about to get. They say we will start fighting or get in a car accident or lose our jobs or something.
posted
The Lord will never abondon us. We are much more important to him than the lillies of the field and the foul of the air. They don't worry and they survive and are happy.
If we try hard to live the commandments, he will confront us with our weaknesses. Many say they believe but the "cares of the world" outweigh thier beleif. Trials only help us learn that about ourselves and repent.
Everything that we go through is so that we can learn about ourselves, and gain a testimony of Christ. One of the things we must get a testimony of is that God is in control of every thing. Our "days are not numbered less"... We will be tried and tested, even as Abraham, and we will learn to trust the Lord.
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