Jesus Christ Is for the Good Days Too
When things are going well, how can we stay focused on the Savior? Here are some ideas.
Imagine if a friend only spent time with you when they were struggling and avoided you when they were happy. Healthy relationship? Not really.
Do we ever do that to our Savior—seek Him in the hard times and forget Him in the good times?
We talk a lot about how Jesus Christ helps us through our hard times, probably because everyone, at one time or another, faces hard things.
But there are some days—weeks or years even, if we’re lucky—where things are going really well. Sometimes we forget the Savior in those times. The peoples of the Book of Mormon did. They prospered from God’s blessings for a time but eventually fell prey to pride when they forgot Him.
Good times don’t mean that we suddenly don’t need Jesus Christ anymore. Times of prosperity are the perfect times to rejoice with the Savior, not forget Him.
So how do we stay connected with Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven when trials aren’t reminding us to turn to Them?
Stay Humble
When things are going well, it’s good to celebrate your blessings and accomplishments. But don’t forget who made it possible for you to be where you are. King Benjamin put it this way in his Book of Mormon sermon:
“For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?” (Mosiah 4:19).
Being humble about your success by remembering what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for you is a great way to include Them in your good times.
Stay Grateful
Gratitude is one of the best antidotes to pride and forgetfulness. Thanking God will help you remember Him and all the good He and His Son do in your life. This is just as effective in good times as it is in hard times.
Stay Aware
One of Satan’s favorite attacks is to “pacify, and lull [you] away into carnal security” (2 Nephi 28:21). In other words, he would love it if you felt so satisfied and safe in your good times that you forgot what matters most. So, don’t forget God! When you stay aware of the adversary’s subtle tricks and resist them even during your good times, you can stay close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
The Good Shepherd, by Michael Malm
Stay Centered on Christ
President Russell M. Nelson taught: “When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy.”
How often do you think of this truth about joy when life is going well? This isn’t just comforting counsel for when things are rough. It’s true always, including on your best days. So do all you can to focus on Christ, come bad or good.