Why Me?

Ever wonder "Why Me?" 
(Lest you think I'm wallowing in despair, all these questions are just possible questions, not ones that I own, although I have asked some of them.)

Why does it seem like we always have to scrimp every month?
Why does parenting not come so easily to me?
Why don't I know how to control my temper?
Why is my child so different from other children?
Why didn't I have the chance to get married?

Why me?


Why was my dad diagnosed with cancer?
Why did my son have to be born so early?
Why did I have to bury my baby?
Why can't I have children?
Why is pregnancy so difficult for me?

Why me?
 
Why do I live with immense pain every day that I can't seem to heal?
Why is every day so hard to get through?
Why must I experience the pain of divorce?
 Why does it seem like I don't have any friends?
Why do I have a horrible boss that enjoys torturing me?
Why do I keep ending up in horrible jobs?

Why me?


I think I have an answer, you might not like it, but I have one.

"Because You're Worth It!"

Wait, what?!  Yes, you, you're worth it.  You're worth the pain, the suffering, the refining of every day.

Last Sunday in church, the bishopric taught our combined Priesthood and Relief Society (the grown-ups) lesson.  Some of their words really struck me.  The second counselor in the bishopric talked about trials and divided them into tribulations, troubles, and afflictions, based on the scriptures.  He described tribulations as those things that happen to us that we can't control: cancer, natural disasters, illnesses, infertility, etc.  Troubles are the trials we experience because of our own decisions: finances, sin, addictions, etc.; and afflictions are the pains caused and brought on by others that affect us.

(Did you just have an ah-ha moment?  Because I did last Sunday.)

The bishop continued to talk about why we experience all of these different trials, and he used the talk "More Than Conquerors Through Him That Loved Us" by Paul V. Johnson.

So, I'm going to quote from that talk as well (emphasis added).

But these trials are not just to test us. They are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature.

Elder Orson F. Whitney said: 'No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. … All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.^'

At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the trials can be very personal—almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses. And no one is exempt, especially not Saints striving to do what’s right. Some obedient Saints may ask, 'Why me? I’m trying to be good! Why is the Lord allowing this to happen?' The furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind pure gold.  Even very rich ore needs refining to remove impurities. Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior, who learned as He suffered 'pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.'

We don’t seek out tests, trials, and tribulations. Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs.

Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

Each of those statements from that talk has made a profound impact on my life.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me enough to let me experience life and provide a way for me to endure them and to become like them -- to put on my divine nature.   I need to experience trials, in all their forms.

I think of Alma (in the Book of Mormon) and his followers who left the wicked King Noah and ended up being afflicted by the Lamanites and his former friends.  Why, when God could have led them to the land of Zarahemla where Mosiah and his people were?  The people had done nothing wrong, in fact, they had all been converted to the Lord, given up their bad habits, left their wicked king; and yet, they were still persecuted for doing nothing wrong.  Why?

"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.  Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people."  ~Mosiah 23:21-22,

As Elder Johnson states, "They are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature."

The only way we can become like God and to know Him and His Son is to endure through these trials and to draw nearer to them.

The Lord will help you, just as he helped Alma's people.

 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.

And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.  Mosiah 24: 10, 13-16

Were the people freed from their burdens in one day?  No.  You may never be free, in this life, from the pain and sorrow or afflictions you have to endure, but the Lord can strengthen you so that you can bear up your burdens with ease.  The hardest part is being able to "submit cheerfully."

Sometimes, you just have to endure and keep going.  Why?

"Because You're Worth It!"