By Alicia Moulton
In Tuesday?s devotional, professor and physical education program director Carol Wilkinson explained steps to help students deal with adversity and difficulties in their lives.
?Difficulties in life allow us to find out how much we need the strength and love of our Heavenly Father, not just in our trials, but always,? Wilkinson said.
Although trials can come because of sin, trials can also come as opportunities to grow and develop, Wilkinson said.
?It is evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more,? she said.
Wilkinson said when these short-term and long-term difficulties come, there are two approaches people can take: they can feel irritated, rely on their own abilities and be influenced by Satan, or overcome their difficulties through faith in Christ.
She said there are four steps in both approaches.
First, she said, when plans are thwarted, people can be baffled and question their faith, which leads to rebellion and being overcome, or they can trust in God and ask different questions.
?You decide to absolutely trust God completely,? Wilkinson said, ?and trust will be for your good even though you haven?t the faintest idea of how he will do it.?
She quoted Elder Richard G. Scott, who said growth through trials comes step by step and without trials people cannot grow. She said everyone should seek to align their wills to God?s as Jesus did in Gethsemane.
?Sometimes God is taking us down a different path,? Wilkinson said, ?and righteous desires may not be met in our timetable as we are going down that path.?
In the second step, when faith does not bring the desired results, those on a path to rebellion feel hurt and doubt God loves them, while those who overcome ask for strength.
Wilkinson described an experience when the Spirit strengthened her when she was trying to get a green card to return from England to the U.S. to work. Another time, she said the Spirit comforted her while she was far away from home in the Jordan River Temple. She said feeling promptings as she relied on the Lord helped her overcome difficulties.
Third, Wilkinson said people should not let the trial consume their lives, and should be positive, rather than trying to negotiate with the Lord and setting conditions for their obedience.
?Try to focus on the good things in life, not on what you don?t have,? Wilkinson said. ?Look for the small miracles as the Lord reaches out to us. Life can be sweet in the midst of difficulty.?
She acknowledged focusing on the positive during trials can be very hard, but is important. She quoted a woman who, despite her chronic illness, said, ?Don?t ever let obscure the splendor of life.?
In the fourth step, she said those who are influenced by Satan will rebel and become bitter, while those who overcome difficulties with the Lord will consecrate their lives to God and draw closer to Him.
?Have an attitude that you will serve him despite the pain you are going through,? Wilkinson said. ?The veil will become thin and you will feel a closeness to your Father in Heaven.?
Wilkinson said when she makes shortbread star cookies for Christmas, she holds the dough to soften it so she can mold it. She said in the same way, the Lord holds his children, rolls them and molds them through adversity. In doing so, this also increases sensitivity to be able to succor others.
?Heavenly Father is preparing us to be gods,? Wilkinson said. ?We don?t understand what this really means, but he does.?
Wilkinson shared her testimony that the Lord knows the process that will help us become like him and he will help us overcome difficulties through faith.
aliciamm@byu.net