Sunday, April 09, 2006

Letting Trials Refine Us (1 Nephi 20:10)

March 20, 2006


“For behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of
affliction.” (1 Nephi 20:10)

Trials and afflictions, in and of themselves, are not necessarily refining or ennobling. They’re just hard. What transforms them into a thing of value is our willingness to look for the lesson. When we rely on the Lord, put our trust in Him and allow Him to lead us through the trial, that is when our afflictions change us, refine us, strengthen our spirit, make of us a better person.

That is when afflictions make us humble, rather than bitter. Teach us compassion, rather than reinforce selfishness. Lead us to extend mercy, rather than insist on justice.

Without God’s help in our trials, without our trust and reliance upon Him, trials are just so much pain and misery.

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