Just before Lehi dies he calls his family to him and gives them advice and counsel. Part of the counsel to his son Jacob includes this profound statement. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). We’ve talked before about how this verse instructs us that opposition is necessary. But there is more taught here.
What did you think when you first read this statement? If you are like most of us, you thought about how opposition means that for every good thing there is a bad thing. That is opposition. However, this statement also means that for every bad thing there is a good thing. This is especially important to realize when thinking about the future. For some reason when we are facing difficult decisions or facing life changes in the future, the fear, the worry, the negative things pop out at us so brightly and loud that we fail to recognize that there is also going to be a positive side because “there is an opposition in all things.”
Therefore, when facing oncoming adversity several of the Truth Tools can help. One is Questioning. When negative thoughts about what might happen pop into our heads we can question it by asking, “Is that true? “ “Will the thing we are fearing really happen?” Yes, it might, but then again it might not. Why let what might not happen destroy our peace? Take it one step at a time. Do what needs to be done. Trust in God. If the thing doesn’t happen—good. You didn’t waste time fearing and worrying. If it comes about God will help you through it when the time comes that you need His help.
Another Truth Tool that helps is one we just talked about—Revision. When fear begins to pull us away from peace, we can Revise the story we are telling ourselves. Refuse to let the story of fear run in our heads and hearts by replacing the story of impending gloom and doom with a story about how Jesus Christ is going to take care of us. That story fills us with peace and joy despite the adversity we are facing. We can also Revise the story by thinking about positive outcomes that could occur or about how family and friends will help us through the trial.
Opposition works for us as much as it works against us. Opposition in all things means that for every bad thing there is also going to be a good. Cling to that thought of good.
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6 comments:
Wow! Thanks, Sherrie. That's a really helpful perspective. :)
Wendi, Thank you. Learning how to not worry is one of the best things we can learn in life. Hope all is going well with you. xoxo
Thank you for the reminder...time to start imagining what good things will come.
Can't wait to read more.
Martha, Thank you. The good will come! It sometimes takes a little time, but it will come.
This is why we can "believe all things" and know the "truth of all things": "All things testify of Christ". Therefore we don't have to rely on broad, artificial categories of good and evil to be safe. The Holy Ghost allows us to go anywhere and chase the darkness that is there with His love and never with fear. Thanks for sharing this.
Joseph, Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment. I especially like what you said about love and not fear. Fear only adds more negative to the world!
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