Opposition

As I’ve been hiking a lot more this last year, I’ve noticed that I am stronger now and better able to hike longer than I was earlier last year.

The first couple of times I was sore and could hardly move.

At first I hiked a few miles and that was it.

Then later in the year I had been on 8, 10, even 12 mile hikes and felt great afterward. I’ve realized that difficult things in our life can be the exact things that strengthen us.

Most of the attributes of Christ we learn in life come through trials and difficulties. Things such as patience, love, trust, forgiveness, and enduring to the end eventually come after hard work, trials, and sometimes difficult circumstances.

Opposition is part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us to be able to learn the things in life we need to in order for us to be the type of people that can live with Him and our Savior once again.

Dallin H. Oaks said, “Opposition is an essential part of the divine plan for helping us grow, and in the midst of that process, we have God’s assurance that, in the long view of eternity, opposition will not be allowed to overcome us. With His help and our faithfulness and endurance, we will prevail. Like the mortal life of which they are a part, all tribulations are temporary.”

Whether it’s hiking, sports, music, a career, school, or raising children, we will be faced with opposition at some time or another. Why should growing spiritually be any different?

For us to grow closer to God and Jesus Christ we must use the opposition around us to grow stronger. Only then will we be strong enough to live with God again.

What difficult things have you done that have strengthened you?