Let Your Spirit Shine – September 30, 2001
No nation, no village, no individual is exempt from adversity. Each one of us experiences sore trials from time to time, and we are united in that suffering. But we can have more in common than our tears. When put to the test, we can refuse to be broken. Despite the calamities that come into our lives, we can draw the line where devastation ends and growth begins.
Through our own self-determination, we can refuse to be crushed beneath the weight of human hurt. We can choose to shine through the rubble, to rise from ruin, and win the battle for our souls. We can come back even stronger than we were before.
It’s easy to give in to discouragement, despair, and grief. Life gives us many opportunities to throw in the towel and quit. But the valiant, the noble, those who keep trudging along no matter how hard the task—they’re the ones who win the final victory, who refine their souls like steel in fire.
How do we keep going? Sometimes we find the motivation in our desire to set an example for our children. Perhaps we keep fighting because we’ve learned to break problems into smaller pieces, and take them one step at a time. Perhaps we’re strengthened by our faith in God—our firm belief that He will help us through any ordeal.
We can’t always change our situation, but we can control our reaction to it. Unless we allow it, no one can squelch our spirit, dampen our determination, or deny us the blessings of God. When we realize our hearts may get broken, but our spirits need never be—this is when our souls begin to shine.
Program #3763