How Can I Get through Hard Things?

How can a loving God allow His children to suffer? It’s a question that many people have wondered about. We can gain some answers by thinking about the purpose of life on earth, the role of Jesus Christ, and our eternal destiny.

Moments of difficulty offer us opportunities to grow and learn. In the book of Isaiah, we read, “Behold, I have refined thee . . . I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). God wants us to become the best version of ourselves. This can often be painful, but some lessons can only be learned by experience.

When we experience hard times, we learn how to have empathy for others. Having empathy makes us more like Jesus Christ, our perfect example. Because Jesus suffered and died for all of our sins, He perfectly understands what we’re going through and how to help us.

God gives each of His children the ability to choose between right and wrong. Unfortunately, some people choose to do bad things that cause innocent people to suffer. But God has promised that suffering will not last forever. In the New Testament, we read that after this life, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). All that is unfair about life will be made right through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was perfectly sinless, yet He suffered more than we can imagine. He took on all of our pains, temptations, and “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Matthew 22:44). In this unimaginable trial, the Savior even cried out, pleading with God, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

He was faithful until the end, never losing hope or giving up. He trusted in God and believed in His plan. He regularly prayed to God and asked for the strength to carry on. He knew His suffering had a purpose, and that it wouldn’t last forever. He met each challenge with faith, resilience, and patience. He set the ultimate example for each of us.

As we all go through our own unique trials, we should strive to follow the Savior’s perfect example of relying on God and His promises. We should keep an eternal perspective, patiently trusting that our pains and sorrows won’t last forever and that the reward of the righteous is great. We should continue to make good choices, even when life is hard. As we pray, serve others, and study the word of God, we will feel closer to Him.