Today’s Reading: Alma 32: 1-19

13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

Let’s imagine for a minute. Imagine that you wanted to worship your Heavenly Father with friends on a weekly basis and felt like you needed a building to do so. You wanted to participate so much that you eagerly helped to build the church. You used your best craftsmanship and Brick. By. Brick. helped to construct a building where you and others would be able to learn from one another, pray, and feel the spirit.

Imagine further that as you eagerly attend your first week, others look at you disdainfully. Instead of the brotherly hand of friendship you dreamed of, you were greeted with utter rejection. “After all,” say those in authority, “your clothes aren’t nice enough, in fact they are coarse.” It doesn’t really matter that your finances are stretched tight for basic necessities like food. No, because of your exceeding poverty, you will not be allowed to worship in this chapel that you helped to fashion with your own hands.

Some form of this is what happened to a group of Nephites. They found Alma teaching and with humble hearts, told him of their dilemma and asked him what they should do. Little did they know, their current humble situation was preparation for a much greater mission and a brand new life.  A life which Heavenly Father had constructed for them. Alma saw their situation with a more eternal perspective and “beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.” (i)

Expelled from their church? Yes. Expelled from their city? (ii)  Yes, but Heavenly Father has a way of turning broken hearts into joy, even amidst painful circumstances.

The Designer of Our Lives

The Lord is such a masterful script writer. We wonder (usually in vain) WHY we are going through our trials. What purpose could this possibly serve? Yet when the last puzzle piece is finally added, and the whole experience is clear, it is obvious as to why our most difficult experiences were critical to complete a masterpiece painted by God Himself.

This was the case for this group of Nephites. Their humble hearts enabled them to be taught beautiful and eternal principles such as faith, repentance, the atonement and salvation. The irony is that poverty is no longer an issue for them in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Yet those who rejected the word will likely regret their lack of belief on judgment day.

When we understand that there is purpose in pain, our load seems more bearable and we walk with more spring in our steps. We come to see that a great God has designed our lives in such a way that we can emerge in God’s very presence. As we puzzle over individual pieces, our Heavenly Father sees the entire panorama. His view is infinite and His desires for us are infinite as well.  Someday we will be able to review our lives from His perspective.  Meanwhile, faith in His view is the only way to effectively navigate with the limited vision we now possess.

(Note: This post by my fellow author, Courtney Parker, is a beautiful example of a time she was able to see purpose in a disappointing situation.)