Meeting Life's Challenges

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a October 1993 General Conference talk, and it is called "Meeting Life's Challenges" by Thomas S. Monson. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk, and I hope you
will be able to learn something new while you are reading this post.

Brother Monson mentioned the following; 

"... Illness is not the only culprit that intrudes and alters our lives. In our hectic and fast-moving world, accidents can in an instant inflict pain, destroy happiness, and curtail our future. ... At times illness and accident take the lives of those whom they strike. Place and station, age and whereabouts make no difference. Death comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its summons is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life’s journey, and often it hushes the laughter of little children.

Throughout the world there is enacted daily the sorrowful scene of loved ones mourning as they bid farewell to a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a mother, a father, or a cherished friend. ... the Prophet Joseph Smith bore eloquent testimony of the Son of God, for he saw Him and heard the Father introduced him: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” As we ponder the events that can befall all of us - even sickness, accident, death, and a host of lesser challenges, we can say, with Job of old, “Man is born unto trouble.”

Needless to add, that reference to man in the King James Version of the book of Job encompasses women as well. It may be safely assumed that no person has ever lived entirely free of suffering and tribulation. Nor has there ever been a period in human history that did not have its full share of turmoil, ruin, and misery. When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to think or speak the phrase, “Why me?” Self-incrimination is a common practice, even when we may have had no control over our difficulty.

Socrates is quoted as saying: “If we were all to bring our misfortunes into a common store, so that each person should receive an equal share in the distribution, the majority would be glad to take up their own and depart.” However, at times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end - no dawn to break the night’s darkness.

"Our most significant opportunities will be found in times greatest
challenge." - Thomas S. Monson

We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes.

... We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. 

... Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life’s fight, let us remember that others have passed the same way, have endured, and then have overcome. ... Turning to our own time, let me share with you an example of faith, of courage, of compassion, of victory. 

It illustrates how it is possible to meet life’s challenges - head on. It exemplifies the ability to suffer physical impairment, endure pain and suffering, and yet never complain. ... There is one life that sustains those who are troubled or beset with sorrow and grief - even the Lord Jesus Christ. ... “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Yes, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is our Exemplar and our strength. He is the light that shineth in darkness.

He is the Good Shepherd. Though engaged in His majestic ministry, He embraced the opportunity to lift burdens, provide hope, mend bodies, and restore life. ... What power, what tenderness, what compassion did our Master thus demonstrate! We, too, can bless if we will but follow His noble example. Opportunities are everywhere. Needed are eyes to see the pitiable plight and ears to hear the silent pleadings of a broken heart. Yes, and a soul filled with compassion, that we might communicate not only eye to eye or voice to ear but, in the majestic style of the Savior, even heart to heart.

His words become our guide: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” He lives. He will sustain each of us. May we keep His commandments. May we ever follow Him
and merit His companionship, that we may successfully meet and overcome life’s challenges ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1993/10/meeting-lifes-challenges

Stay Tuned until next time.