Miracle or Tragedy, We Praise God

Thursday July 5, 2007

I heard a thought provoking thing on Sunday during sacrament meeting: miracle or tragedy, we praise God. This made me think of something Elder Richard G. Scott said that I feel corresponds to this statement:

"True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, there is the assurance that, in the Lord's time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours.

"The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is your understanding and application of the laws of God that will give your life glorious purpose as you ascend and conquer the difficulties of life. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place—stepping-stones to further growth and attainment." ("The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness," Ensign, Nov 2006, 41.)

Sometimes the Lord allows bad things to happen to us and other times he performs miracles. Our understanding of our personal part in God's eternal Plan of Salvation is limited, but his knowledge and plan for each of us is perfect. During times of tragedy we can choose to have faith and praise God, even though we had hoped for (or expected) a miracle. Here are some related articles: