Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.
Elder Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord", Ensign, November 1995
There are days that seem so overwhelming, so frustrating, so stressful in my life. Apparently I need to grow more. 😁
But I think that what happens to me and what I go through is a matter of perspective. When my head and heart are focused on what it should be focused on, things aren't as overwhelming, aren't as frustrating, aren't as stressful. But when I'm focused where I shouldn't be, like focused on myself, that's when things feel heavy.
Does it mean when things are lighter and less stressful, that those hard things have gone away? Not necessarily. Much of what I go through will not go away anytime soon. Much of what others go through won't either. It just means that I'm focused on others and, especially, Christ and His gospel. And I'm not so focused on me, and my challenges and trials.
Remember, to get us to our goal of eternal life, we will be stretched. While I still can't touch my toes now and I'm not very flexible right now, that will come. I am being stretched. It is painful sometimes. But, as any fitness expert can attest, flexibility increases strength. The more we are stretched and the more often we are stretched, the stronger we become.
