What Is A Blessing And What Is A Trial?

[Traveler]

In general we tend to think of blessings in terms of things we want or enjoy. But if we define a blessing as something that would tend to bring us closer to G-d – in particular on our knees; respectively and repentantly before G-d – then perhaps we should think of trials as the better blessings – the more saver the trial the greater the blessing it is. At the same time many things counted as blessings may really be temptations.

Opinions?

The Traveler

[a-train]

A flat tire could be a great annoyance, but could keep you from travelling to the location of a drunk driver who would have otherwise killed your family.

Matt 5:45: 'for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.'

Is the sun a blessing or a curse? Is rain a blessing or a curse?

hmmmmm.

-a-train

[Gaia]

In general we tend to think of blessings in terms of things we want or enjoy. But if we define a blessing as something that would tend to bring us closer to G-d – in particular on our knees; respectively and repentantly before G-d – then perhaps we should think of trials as the better blessings – the more saver the trial the greater the blessing it is. At the same time many things counted as blessings may really be temptations.

Opinions?

The Traveler

GAIA:

Hi There, Traveler -- Great Question!

In my experience, at least some "trials" are things that would normally be good and righteous for us to desire and work toward, but which are withheld from us, or required for us to SACRIFICE -- for higher reasons.

Consdier for example, Abraham's Trial:

Abraham had been promised the "son of the Promise" -- the son of Sarah who would be the one to continue to bless the whole earth with the Priesthood, which had to have been one of Abraham's greatest hopes and desires; but as time went by, it must have seemed that his hopes were in vain.

Then the miracle! -- The child is concieved and born sucessfully, grows somewhat.....and Abraham is presented with a commandment to sacrifice him. Can we possibly try to imagine what must have gone through his mind: How could the promises be fulfilled if the child is sacrificed? And Abraham himself had barely escaped being a VICTIM of child sacrifice in his youth; could there have been anything more heinous to him, more offensive? He had to have wondered, Could this really be God who is requiring this horrific, horrendous thing, and if not, who exactly is it that Abraham has been lisltening to, trusting in, all this time? I dunno, but i have to wonder whether these aren't some of the thoughts that must have gone through his mind....

But Abraham met the challenge, and obeyed -- and of course, we know the rest of the story: he was blessed.

I think an Abrahamic Trial is one that cuts right to the quick of your most righteous, honorable and deepest heartfelt desires and hopes; it requires you to offer up those desires and hopes upon the Altar to God -- and causes you to question everything, everything ..... and yet, if you make it through, God withholds nothing from you. I think that's at least part of the meaning of "Sacrifice brings forth the Blessings of Heaven...."

~Gaia

[john doe]

I think that one person's trial can also be their blessing, but the blessing for one person may also be a trial for someone else. Take money, for instance. Having to little or too much money can be great trials to those who have each. Granted, I'd like to have a bite or two from that side of the fence, but I recognize that rich people have their share of problems, they are just different from mine.

[Adomini22]

Good point. My home teaching companion in Idaho( who is now the bishop), said the same thing about blessings. You dont know whats around the corner. Good thread.

[Gwen]

i used to make jokes all the time about spending most of my time trying to figure out how to survive my blessings. then i found this and was dissapointed that it wasn't an origional thought. anywho, still true none the less. and it was origional to me, just wasn't new to the world. lol

i love her stuff by the way. can think of few better people to be sharing credit for ideas with.

http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=4920318

http://deseretbook.com/authors/author-info?author_id=7997 at the bottom of this page there are 3 articles she has written (peices from her books i think) a must read for any parent but especially moms.

[Annabelli]

I think that one person's trial can also be their blessing, but the blessing for one person may also be a trial for someone else. Take money, for instance. Having to little or too much money can be great trials to those who have each. Granted, I'd like to have a bite or two from that side of the fence, but I recognize that rich people have their share of problems, they are just different from mine.

In this day and age, I think that fame has became a major trial for many people.

[MadHatter]

Blessings come from overcoming trials and exercising faith.

Trials are for us to learn and grow, they are to test us and push us to the very most limit we can possibly go without breaking.

We will never be tried more than is our capability to withstand ourselves.

alot of people breakdown and go "crazy" or whatever when faced with difficult trials. These people have the strength themselves to overcome thier obstacle, but they choose not to because the world tells them and allows them to say "woe is me" and rationalize themselves out of gorwth and understanding.

The trials aren't the reason you are the way you are.... It;s your response to the trials at hand, will you endure to the end? or will you give up and quit saying "woe is me"?

[Annabelli]

Blessings come from overcoming trials and exercising faith.

Trials are for us to learn and grow, they are to test us and push us to the very most limit we can possibly go without breaking.

We will never be tried more than is our capability to withstand ourselves.

alot of people breakdown and go "crazy" or whatever when faced with difficult trials. These people have the strength themselves to overcome thier obstacle, but they choose not to because the world tells them and allows them to say "woe is me" and rationalize themselves out of gorwth and understanding.

The trials aren't the reason you are the way you are.... It;s your response to the trials at hand, will you endure to the end? or will you give up and quit saying "woe is me"?

I can see how trials might work with temporary problems/face it and move on. But what about job loss where a person may never recover to a full salary again and struggle with poverty the rest of their lives.

[MadHatter]

people who "can't get a job" Either, don't try, or did something to keep them from being considered by other employers.

There are plenty of jobs everywhere, someone is ALWAYS hiring.

so what if you live in poverty, i make 30K a year for me and my wife, we are in the "poverty" level, but because my mom was disabled and physically unable to work, she had to raise me on 500 dollars a month from disability from the time i was 8 till i was 18.

That trial taught me the lesson of the value of money, and being humble, but also taking pride in your work and being greatful to God for all of the blessings he bestows on you and how much he takes care of you.

[Annabelli]

The people who lost their jobs in the county over when the alum siding company closed are working 2-3 jobs in fast food, seasonal landscaping, etc. and they are humbling to make ends meet.

[Gaia]

I can see how trials might work with temporary problems/face it and move on. But what about job loss where a person may never recover to a full salary again and struggle with poverty the rest of their lives.

GAIA:

Perhaps part of the trial is to survive the loss of status and opportunity (including advancement, wealth, etc -- even the opportunities to bless other lives with that wealth) that was once part of that job... and to find ways to succeed and thrive, despite that loss.

It's the same with serious, chronic illness -- it makes no sense when the losses (of opportunity and all) are viewed from a mortal perspective; but when viewed from an eternal perspective, it teaches many lessons (not the least of which are the kind of humility, compassion, patience and wisdom, that those who have never had such trials, can never -- well, seldom -- understand.

~Gaia

[MadHatter]

The people who lost their jobs in the county over when the alum siding company closed are working 2-3 jobs in fast food, seasonal landscaping, etc. and they are humbling to make ends meet.

maybe they needed to be sufficiently humbled?

[prisonchaplain]

I do not disagree at all with the idea that trials can become blessings. However, until they do, they are trials. We praise God in the midst of trials, by faith. We rejoice in blessings by experience.

To talk of current trials as "hidden blessings" is great faith talk. When a believer is in the midst of such, however, my prayers are for strength to endure, and for the blessing that is yet to come.

[Traveler]

The people who lost their jobs in the county over when the alum siding company closed are working 2-3 jobs in fast food, seasonal landscaping, etc. and they are humbling to make ends meet.

Perhaps this is not so much a trial for those that lost their jobs but to the many other Christians in other places that did not lose theirs. I believe that Jesus said something along that line in Matt 25:31-46.

The Traveler