Sometimes, we may experience a trial or face a challenge that seems to never stop. It just continues as time goes on, and no matter how much we want it to end quickly, it won't.
In times like these, when we are experiencing great pain or sorrow, Elder Christofferson recently shared how we can grow closer to God and increase our faith.
I have spoken before about how we sometimes want to pray for a quick solution when we face challenges in our lives. However, when these trials force us to turn to God in daily prayer, they often teach us how to have faith in Him to a degree that we might not have reached otherwise.
My recent trip to Brazil again impressed upon me how important faith in our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ, is when we face trials.
Some of you may know that Brazil has experienced a significant amount of political and economic turmoil in recent years. I suspect that this is true for many other people throughout the world—regardless of where you live.
Though the circumstances in which you find yourself can be difficult, I want to let you know that I had a very strong impression during my trip to Brazil that despite their difficulties, I had no hesitation in letting those with whom I met know that things will turn out well.
People want to know if they can have hope. I say to all of us, the answer is a resounding yes. With faith in the merciful Redeemer and His power, potential despair turns to hope.
Nowhere was this more evident to me than in the faces of the young people with whom I met. They were excited and exciting. Surely they know of the difficulties surrounding them, but they couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about life and the gospel.
My hope is that when the tide of disappointment and misfortune turns toward us—and from time to time it surely will—that we will remember that when we look toward the Lord in faith, He will guide us through life’s difficulties—whatever they may be.