why opposition is a good thing

as i mentioned earlier, i am pushing to read my scriptures every day. & not just read them, but actually study them too.

i was studying 2 Nephi 2. the whole chapter is Lehi addressing his son Jacob, giving him some wonderful words of wisdom. words that we all could benefit from hearing.

in verse 10 it reads: "for it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." he goes on to say that without the good, there would be no bad. no law, no sin ---> no sin, no righteousness ---> no righteousness, no happiness ---> no righteousness & happiness, no sin & misery. without these things there would be no God & if there was no God, there would be no us, no earth, no creation! what a humbling thought.

he also that because of opposition, we have the choice to act or be acted upon. James E. Faust once said, "being acted upon means someone else is pulling the strings." it is my life, & with the help of my heavenly father, i would like to be the one making the decisions. we need to act for ourselves, which includes deciding how we want to react to situations.

the really neat part of this post is what happened hours after i had these thoughts about my scripture study. i was with my mother in law & we were talking about life & the roller coaster that i seem to be on. she pointed out the fact that this sadness i might be feeling will make the happiness so much happier. she also mentioned that rather than dwelling on these trials forever & questioning why we are experiencing them, we should be looking for the lesson. (i seriously got the greatest mother in law. she lets me open up & never judges me. plus she's full of the advice i always need to hear.)

we have to experience the trials & i believe we have to let ourselves go through the emotions too. that is something i have really been fighting - trying to push those emotions back, but we need to let it happen! & as much as we need to have those feelings, we also need to choose to not let them take over.

i don't know if any of this post makes much sense - my brain has been going nonstop (especially when i was trying to sleep last night). but i hope someone is able to see the good in opposition the way i have the last few days.

xoxo


oh. & i should add this article. a friend recently sent it to me. life is hard, suffering is optional. remember, we get to choose!