The Silver Platter of Weaknesses: Why the Lord Never Takes Away the Challenge

Brothers and Sisters, if you are reading this, chances are you are feeling a wild mix of excitement and trepidation. You might be packing your bags for the MTC, or maybe you’ve just received your first few missionary discussions. You've been told that the mission will change your life, and you can't help but wonder: *How?*

Sometimes, when we talk about the 'work,' we tend to focus on the exciting parts: the baptisms, the gospel talks, the moments of powerful witness. But the most profound changes rarely happen when everything is easy. They happen when the Lord gently, or sometimes forcefully, presents us with our own weaknesses.

I was listening recently to a wonderful message from a returned missionary who shared this exact sentiment. He spoke of how he thought he had "figured out" life, until the field arrived and the Lord seemed to take a "silver platter of all of my weaknesses" and handed them back to him. It sounds dramatic, but it’s one of the most accurate descriptions of discipleship I’ve ever heard.

The Strength Found in the Weakness

It’s a truth that sometimes feels counterintuitive: that the things we struggle with—the impatience, the habit of overthinking, the fear of rejection—are not obstacles to be avoided, but *material* for Christ to work with. When we complain about a challenge, we are often complaining about the place where we are meant to grow the most.

A great missionary preparation skill, which I encourage all of you to practice right now, is to change your internal dialogue from, "How do I avoid this struggle?" to, "How can I allow the Spirit to strengthen me *through* this struggle?"

Remember that feeling of spiritual inadequacy you might have right now? That feeling is not a failure; it is a pinpoint of light showing you exactly where the Lord wants to shine His strength. We are not called to be perfect; we are called to be Christlike—and Christ was always doing the most powerful work in the deepest valleys of human frailty.

Discipleship Beyond the Field

For those of you who are already seasoned disciples, or even those of you who are pondering the calling but aren't actively in the field, remember the guiding principle of our movement: every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. The field is glorious, but the work is also happening right here, right now, in your daily life.

If you are struggling with a specific question about the plan of salvation or the nature of revelation, don't sit with it. Bring it to a study group! Discoverable scripture-discipleship is waiting for you. Whether you join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces, or you want to use the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook to highlight a passage and discuss it with others, the Lord has provided a community for that discussion.

And if you find yourself wrestling with the hardest, most theological questions—the ones that feel too big for a single Sunday talk—I highly recommend connecting with Davee. Our AI Investigator role is designed specifically to walk you through those tough, hard questions an investigator might ask, helping you formulate answers rooted in the Spirit and the doctrines of the Restoration.

Your Invitation to Growth

To help you practice this principle—that weakness is simply the gateway to strength—I invite you to participate in our free weekly Disciple Challenge. It’s a simple, actionable prompt designed to help you view a current struggle not as a complaint, but as a divine opportunity. It’s a wonderful way to deepen your personal mission preparation, whether you are a pre-missionary, a returned missionary, or a lifelong disciple.

And if you want to dive deeper into the mechanics of conversion and discipleship, I highly recommend the latest book from Iron Rod. Check out the latest title in LivingBook—it’s a perfect companion for anyone studying the principles of Preach My Gospel.

Remember, my friends. The Lord never takes away the challenges because He knows that what He is doing is not merely protecting you, but refining you. He is making you the best version of yourself, one struggle at a time.