Preparing For Hard Things
When Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he was perhaps the only one who knew what awaited him in the coming very few days. His disciples probably saw the way the people responded and had great hope that his mission and ministry had gained enough momentum that the best was yet to come, even though Jesus had warned them otherwise. The fanfare was short-lived as the group entered an upper room for what we know as the Last Supper.
Another example of this is when Joseph and Hyrum Smith traveled to Carthage, Illinois, to meet death at the hands of a mob led by betrayers of the cause of Zion. Neither Jesus nor the Smith brothers wanted to meet the fates that awaited them, but they submitted themselves to the inevitable.
Each of us, to a far lesser extent, experience times when we know that we are approaching hard things in life. These obstacles can be small or great, but either way we must prepare. Many things in life are as inevitable as the examples mentioned earlier. Most are inconsequential in comparison to life coming to an end, but others are just as dire, including the end of mortality. The point is that preparation is essential if we are to navigate hard times with a sense of grace.
The preparations of Jesus included giving his disciples instructions and authority to carry on the work of his ministry and the establishment of his church. A major part of the instructions were to prepare the Apostles for the battles they would have to face and their own unpleasant demise. Overriding the negative aspects of the future, promised them eternal rewards and a glimpse of the majesty of the rise of the church as the kingdom of God on the earth.
The same is true for us. There will be hard times, but we can approach them with dignity, optimism, and resolve. There is no need for despair when we rely on the same promises and authority given to the Apostles, both ancient and modern.
Faith and knowledge are the keys to preparation. Because we can’t see the future, we must have faith. When we exercise faith, we gain knowledge and testimony. There are different kinds of knowledge; trivial and profound. Trivial knowledge is the kind that has no eternal context. In other words, things that may be true today, but not tomorrow. Eternal truth remains constant and unchanged throughout the eternities. We have to navigate life using both short-term and eternal truths based on the conditions of the times.
The Savior dealt with the circumstances of his time, but with an eye on the eternal consequences of his actions. He suffered the brutality of evil men, while simultaneously doing the will of his Father. He was beaten and nailed to a cross and died, only to rise in triumph on the third day. He was prepared for both.
When Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” he meant more than just keeping commandments and doing good. Ultimately, we will be beaten, bruised, and broken, and have to suffer our crosses in life. Because life is not fair, and we intentionally or inadvertently stray from the path, we must be prepared to let things die. If we continue to follow the Savior, we will rise again and start anew. Knowing that we can overcome sin through Christ’s atonement may be the ultimate way to prepare for hard things.