Basic beliefs and principles , Heavenly Father
4 min read
The gospel of Jesus Christ is optimistic and hopeful. We cling to the good news of the gospel, and rightly so. After all, “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). However, we can also disregard the harsh truths of progress in our determination to find this joy.
It's almost never intentional. Our only goal is to inspire and motivate! However, we often believe, whether we realize it or not, that if we try hard enough, our trials will end the way we want. Have you ever heard a phrase similar to the following?
"If you only pray more / with more faith / in a better way (insert action here), then God will answer you (insert blessing here)."
When our situation worsens or the sky remains silent, we feel we have failed. If only we could be better, then our lives would be better.
While there is certainly power and blessings that come from living a righteous life, all of God's children must prepare to undergo God's trials. Seeking to understand and accept suffering and sacrifice is an essential heartbeat of a disciple. Consider this quote from Joseph Smith:
“You will have to go through all kinds of trials. And it is essential that you be tested, like Abraham and other men of God, and (he added) God will seek you out and take you and twist the very fibers of your heart; and if you cannot endure it, you will not be fit for an inheritance in the heavenly kingdom of God.”
God's request that Abraham kill his only son is one of the greatest biblical examples of sacrifice. After waiting many agonizing years for a child, Abraham's willingness to kill his son is as heartbreaking as it is admirable.
అయితే, అబ్రహాము తన బలిని పూర్తి చేయవలసిన అవసరం లేకపోవడం నాకు తరచుగా ఆసక్తికరంగా అనిపిస్తుంది. ప్రభువు దూత ప్రత్యక్షమై అబ్రహాము ఇస్సాకును చంపకుండా నివారిస్తారు.
But what do you do when the angel doesn't appear in your life? What if God actually asks you to "kill" your symbolic Isaac?
Below, we will mention 3 important principles that you should reflect on during these difficult sacrifices:
It cannot be about the result
Why do we do the things we do? This is one of the important questions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do we obey out of fear? Perhaps we expect something in return for our good works. Or we may simply be trying to do the best we can because it's all we know how to do.
The answer to why we do the things we do in the Gospel evolves and changes over time. However, I believe our deepest motivation for serving God must be love.
When we love God and want to do His will as an expression of that love, we find the courage to face disappointing or even tragic results.
If our faith is based on wanting our lives to go a certain way, our faith will likely crumble. If our foundation is based on a good relationship with Jesus Christ, this foundation will be able to withstand the necessary trials of our souls.
A progress like Christ's
The greatest example of sacrifice is the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His suffering was greater than we can imagine. Christ asked if He could pass from this bitter cup, as we often do. Yet, He submitted to God's will and offered us eternal life.
When we are asked to drink from the bitter cup, we can find strength in our progress toward becoming more like Christ. By truly sacrificing ourselves, we gain a deeper understanding of who He is and how we can follow in His footsteps.
Therefore, a very difficult sacrifice is not a punishment, a consequence, or a failure. Rather, it is an opportunity to know Christ.
Something better
This powerful statement by Elder Enzio F. Busche can help us find hope in our darkest times.
“When you are forced to give something up or when the things you love are taken away from you, know that this is a lesson you must learn in this moment. But also know that, as you learn this lesson, God wants to give you something better.”
We should never try to diminish the magnitude of a sacrifice. But, as we strive to maintain perspective, we can see beyond the pain of this moment.
Not much can offer us comfort, especially when the "something better" we hope for doesn't arrive in this life. However, we can find strength and courage as we trudge through the mud, hoping for a brighter day.
This is a translation of the article that was originally written by Aleah Ingram and published on ldsdaily.com with the title “ Killing Isaac: When God Requires the Hardest Sacrifice ”.
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