When the Angels Don't Intervene and the Trials Come

In my last blog I wrote about the times when heavenly angels intervene on our behalf and trials are lessened, or even alleviated altogether. But what about the times the angels don't intervene and the full brunt of the trial falls upon us? Then what? Are we left to our own devices or is God still in our story?

Current headlines: A little boy is killed by a neighbor's dogs as he played in his own backyard with his mother. The mother is in the hospital in critical condition. A husband and wife are killed by a falling tree while driving through the Redwoods. Their five children are now orphans. Tornados rip through the Southeast leaving in their wake death and destruction on a large scale. Due to a pandemic, businesses close and people are without jobs, creating financial hardship for millions of people. Others are suffering from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. I read these stories and I think to myself, where are the angels? Why is there so much suffering? I know my questions are a result of the empathy I feel for those who are experiencing these awful trials, but I also know that the angels will not and cannot intervene in every terrible situation. It was never meant to be that way. In a recent talk, Elder Neil L. Andersen said, "Although the details will differ, the tragedies, the unanticipated tests and trials, both physical and spiritual, come to each of us because this is mortality."

And as hard as it is to understand, God allows these trials to come. As an all powerful Being, He has the ability to stop every bad thing from happening to us, but He lets us face these afflictions because we need them to learn and to grow. As an example of how God feels about the importance and purpose of trials, He taught the Prophet Joseph Smith this principle while he was separated from his family and friends and unlawfully imprisoned: "All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7). Elder Neil A. Maxwell explained, "The premise of this scripture is that experience is valuable, and the only way to have it is to have it. And whether it involves adversity or whatever, then we are blessed. It is essential that out of these experiences we form character."

One more quote to make this point comes from Orson F. Whitney, who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation that we gain the education that we came here to acquire."The why of trials, then, is that they present opportunities to make us stronger, better and and as Elder Maxwell said, "to become more Christ-like."

Although one of the end goals of trials - becoming more Christ-like - may be positive, getting there is always difficult and can seem unfair. I've had my share of trials, and I don't think that during any one of them I thought to myself that all these things shall give me experience and shall be for my good. I don't think I ever thought to myself while I was going through a particularly difficult trial that this is a wonderful character-building opportunity. And there were times I felt that I didn't deserve the challenges I was facing. It can be hard to learn from our trials while we are neck-deep in them and when they are all-consuming. It wasn't until I came out on the other end of the refiner's fire, and had time to reflect on what I had gone through, that I realized that I was a changed person. It has been evident to me that the trials and tribulations that affected me the most, changed me the most. I'm grateful that in the process of going through these trials, I was able to drink the bitter cup without becoming bitter.

I look back on these trials now and I realize that they did give me experience, they were for my good and they were wonderful character-building opportunities. They did humbled me, and I now have more empathy for others who face similar trials. Not only do I have more empathy for others, but because of my trials, I am able to more keenly assess others' needs and provide the service that they need during their trials. I had help from others during my trials, and God expects us to help others during their trials. As Jesus Christ's disciples, we are to bear one another's burdens and mourn with those who mourn.

Now that I have my life centered in Christ, I have a long-term, eternal perspective of the purpose of trials and that there is a divine plan. I know that God does not cause the trials in my life. They are just part of the mortal experience and are intended to refine me into a being worthy to enter His kingdom. Joseph Smith once said, "You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham, and God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your heart strings, and if you cannot stand it, you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God."

In the October 2020 general conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland uttered these very bold words in regard to our mortal pain and suffering: "The point is that faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf. That can be difficult in our modern world when many have come to believe that the highest good in life is to avoid all suffering, that no one should ever anguish over anything. But that belief will never lead us to “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” With apologies to Elder Neal A. Maxwell for daring to modify and enlarge something he once said, I too suggest that “one’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free.” It simply will not work “to glide naively through life,” saying as we sip another glass of lemonade, “Lord, give me all thy choicest virtues, but be certain not to give me grief, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor opposition. Please do not let anyone dislike me or betray me, and above all, do not ever let me feel forsaken by Thee or those I love. In fact, Lord, be careful to keep me from all the experiences that made Thee divine. And then, when the rough sledding by everyone else is over, please let me come and dwell with Thee, where I can boast about how similar our strengths and our characters are as I float along on my cloud of comfortable Christianity.” My beloved brothers and sisters, Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. The path to holiness and happiness here and hereafter is a long and sometimes rocky one. It takes time and tenacity to walk it. But, of course, the reward for doing so is monumental." As is typical of Elder Holland, there is no mincing of words. He tells it like it is, which in essence is, if you want the eternal rewards, then you need to face the mortal trials.

I have come to learn that God will help me through my trials when I turn to Him; that I don't have to face my adversity alone. He's also been there for me when I didn't see Him in my story. He was on that long, solitary drive with me all those years ago when I ran away from home (see my first blog for details). He kept me company and provided comfort when I felt lonely and forsaken. I didn't know it then, but I know it now. I've also come to learn that each trial has an expiration date, and God will deliver us from our trials when He decides the time is right, but more often He delivers us in our trials. He gives us strength to face whatever comes our way. He comforts us and succors us in our distress. Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our fears, and if we allow Him, he will provide a peace that surpasses all understanding. God will never desert us in our trials. It is not His character to do so.

Even though there are many times when the heavenly angels cannot intervene on our behalf and thwart our mortal trials, they can still bear us up and help us fight the good fight. The times when I've seen God clearly succor me in my trials have been the times He has sent earthly angels to ease my burdens - neighbors, friends, co-workers, family and church members who helped carry my cross until I was strong enough to pick it back up. And through it all, I have learned to trust God and let Him prevail in my life, even if it means enduring trials.

I want to share a recent experience I had. About two weeks ago, we found out that in the next 30-60 days my husband will be losing his job, AGAIN. This is now the second time in less than five years we have had to face financial uncertainty due to a job loss. We were hoping that Mark would be able to retire with his current company, but it is not meant to be. Though I am handling the situation better than I did the last time, the fear and anxiety can still get the better of me sometimes. The morning after learning this news, I prayed to Heavenly Father asking Him why we had to face this trial again. I was praying that Mark would be able to find another job, but ultimately, I conceded and said "thy will be done." I was choosing to let God prevail; whatever that looks like.

After I closed my prayer, I was prompted to retrieve my scriptures. On top of my scriptures was a book that I received from our kids this past Christmas. It is entitled Daily Joy, a Devotional for Each Day of the Year. It is written by President Russell M. Nelson. I opened it, and in large letters, the title of that day's devotional was FACE THE FUTURE WITH OPTIMISM. I just shook my head in wonder and awe. He managed once again to answer my prayers in an unexpected but wonderful way. I instantly felt peace about our situation. I continued reading President Nelson's counsel: "We live in the most vibrant era in the history of the world. I wake up every morning eager for the adventures of the day. And I hope you feel the same exuberance for the gift of life. Though our world is filled with serious challenges, I am optimistic about the future and confident about the fundamental goodness of humankind....I give you my assurance that regardless of the world's condition and your personal circumstances, you can face the future with optimism and joy - if you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel."

With that, I closed this little book, and thanked God for His goodness and mercy. I know that we will be Okay. Whatever comes, I can face this trial and the financial uncertainty with trust in God that these things shall give me experience and shall be for my good, with the ultimate goal to help me to become more like Jesus Christ.

I want to bear my testimony that God loves his children, and He wants us to be successful during our mortal lives. We can experience joy and happiness regardless of our circumstances. I plan to take President Nelson's advice to heart and face my future with optimism, wake up every morning eager for the adventures of the day and feel exuberance for the gift of life that God gave me.

Note from the author: I have included on the Others' Stories page a story submitted by Carol Danz. She and her family survived the Paradise Camp Fire in November 2018. Read this story of courage and faith during a time of trial and adversity. It is truly a privilege for all of us that Carol was willing to share her personal story of Coming Out of the Refiner's Fire.