Bad Days

Even in the service of the Lord, we are not immune from bad days. My companion and I are recovering from a bout of the flu. It hasn't been a fun experience.

When we face trials, it's easy to think, "I'm trying to do what is right. Why is this happening to me?" It's easy to get caught in the trap of self-pity. If we indulge those feelings long enough, it starts to become easier to blame God for our misfortunes.

Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail - by Liz Lemon Swindle

 
The fact is all of us face sorrow and pain throughout life. Good deeds do not eliminate bad situations. In fact, some of the most Christlike people I know seem to face more afflictions than others.

The Prophet Joseph Smith, for example, faced hardships all his life. He was tarred and feathered. Several of his children died in their infancy. As a child his leg was veritably torn apart in a painful operation necessary because of an infection he had contracted. He spent months in the cold, inhumane setting of Liberty Jail, where he wondered aloud how long God would stay His hand of mercy from the saints and justice from their persecutors. Our Father in Heaven's response contains meaning for us all:

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8)

When we approach challenges with humility and patience rather than anger and bitterness, we allow ourselves to learn the things God wants us to learn from those challenges. Our own obstinate pride cannot vaporize our hardships, but a positive attitude can make them easier to bear. If we rely on the Lord, He will help us through anything.

Next time you're having a bad day, don't ask "Why me?" Instead, ask "What can I learn?"