“The divine plan for us to become what we are destined to become requires us to make choices to reject the evil opposition that tempts mortals to act contrary to God’s commandments and His plan. It also requires that we be subject to other mortal opposition, such as from the sins of others or from some defects of birth. Sometimes our needed growth is achieved better by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility. And none of this mortal opposition could achieve its eternal purpose if divine intervention relieved us from all the adverse consequences of mortality.”
President Dallin H. Oaks, “The Great Plan”, General Conference, April 2020
Comfort and tranquility is where we want to be, I do anyway. I like it. It’s easy, it’s peaceful, it’s less stress, it’s painless. It’s like laying in a hammock, on a sunny, perfect day.
But that is not where growth happens. Growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones. And that’s not easy to do. We need to stand and progress forward when it’s raining and windy. It’s sometimes dark and we can’t see. Holding on to the iron rod will keep us grounded when it’s not sunny and perfect.
Life is made up of two scenarios. One is just going through life in a hammock, carefree, no stress or worries. Life is good. But there is no improving. There may not be sinful or bad acts, but if there’s no improvement, eventually temptation will get through.
The second scenario is where there is growth and improvement but life is full of stress, difficult things, and heartache. The more we improve, the stronger the armor becomes and temptation’s darts cannot get through when the armor is solid.
So, the more we go through, the more we grow. The harder and more difficult our circumstances, the more we become like Christ.
We agreed to our circumstances. We couldn’t wait. We were ready. And then we got here and discovered how tough it really is. But….with Christ we can get through the rain and winds on both feet, holding on to the iron rod.