Walking with Him: Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste

Job; Come Follow Me: Old Testament 2026
(August 10–16)

Three Thoughts from Me:

Job exemplifies the human experience of hard things. When things can’t get worse, they do. Friends are helpful, until they’re not. There are times of cursing God and then testifying of Him: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God (Job 19:25, 26).” 

While the popular question the book of Job poses is “why do bad things happen to good people,” I think the more important question is “how do good people respond to bad things?” Do we become bitter or better? Do we discover lessons that help us increase resilience and prepare for the next hard thing? Do we apply the experience towards increased empathy and caring for others? 

During the middle of World War II, it’s rumored that Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” in the context of forming the United Nations. I’ve taken that to heart, and I try to do hard just a little bit better by learning from each experience. I’m practicing these four principles: (1) preparedness, (2) patience, (3) keeping an eternal perspective, and (4) continually trusting in Christ that it will all work out. Identifying these practices and writing them down has been helpful to me this week. It might be a good exercise for you, too.

Two Thoughts from Others:

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” (Orson F. Whitney)

“Do not let unfairness harden you or corrode your faith in God. Instead, ask God for help. Increase your appreciation for and reliance on the Savior. Rather than becoming bitter, let Him help you become better. Allow Him to help you persevere, to let your afflictions be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ.” Join Him in His mission “to heal the brokenhearted,” strive to mitigate unfairness, and become a stonecatcher.” (Elder Renlund)

One Question for You

Can you describe how you approach hard experiences?