"Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—
I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;
Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.
Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son."
Doctrine and Covenants 101:1-4
This revelation was given at a really scary time for the early saints. They were being persecuted by mobs, kicked out of their homes, their property had been destroyed, and they were threatened with death, both by the mob and as a consequence of many of the mob's actions--people whose crops had been burned were without food or shelter in many cases.
God explains that he allowed them to be moved out of their place because of transgression. Basically, they weren't ready to inherit the promised land yet. After that though, he doesn't say they are cast off forever or that anyone should give up. He says basically, you aren't ready, but I will help you get ready because I want you there. It reminds me of when God had the children of Israel wander for 40 years in the wilderness because they weren't ready to inherit *that* promised land yet.
The way that God is going to help them get ready is to chasten and try them. That can seem counterproductive at first glance, because trials often feel like impediments to progress or punishments rather than as learning exercises. God doesn't work that way though (1 Peter 4:12-13). He teaches us, builds us up, and prepares us through trials, so that we'll be ready for things to come... including entering the promised land and inheriting God's kingdom.
Abraham was tried right now to his toes, right? This wasn't for God's benefit, but for Abraham's. *Abraham* needed to know who he was, and how trustworthy God was... right down to his toes. God works with us in a similar way. The obstacles and trials in our lives are not there to tear us down, but rather to strengthen and build us up, and to help us know who we are, and who God is. Today, let's remember that our trials are opportunities for growth. Let's take the chances that we have to learn and to become stronger, relying on God to guide and help us, especially in the midst of trouble.
I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;
Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.
Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son."
Doctrine and Covenants 101:1-4
This revelation was given at a really scary time for the early saints. They were being persecuted by mobs, kicked out of their homes, their property had been destroyed, and they were threatened with death, both by the mob and as a consequence of many of the mob's actions--people whose crops had been burned were without food or shelter in many cases.
God explains that he allowed them to be moved out of their place because of transgression. Basically, they weren't ready to inherit the promised land yet. After that though, he doesn't say they are cast off forever or that anyone should give up. He says basically, you aren't ready, but I will help you get ready because I want you there. It reminds me of when God had the children of Israel wander for 40 years in the wilderness because they weren't ready to inherit *that* promised land yet.
The way that God is going to help them get ready is to chasten and try them. That can seem counterproductive at first glance, because trials often feel like impediments to progress or punishments rather than as learning exercises. God doesn't work that way though (1 Peter 4:12-13). He teaches us, builds us up, and prepares us through trials, so that we'll be ready for things to come... including entering the promised land and inheriting God's kingdom.
Abraham was tried right now to his toes, right? This wasn't for God's benefit, but for Abraham's. *Abraham* needed to know who he was, and how trustworthy God was... right down to his toes. God works with us in a similar way. The obstacles and trials in our lives are not there to tear us down, but rather to strengthen and build us up, and to help us know who we are, and who God is. Today, let's remember that our trials are opportunities for growth. Let's take the chances that we have to learn and to become stronger, relying on God to guide and help us, especially in the midst of trouble.
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