When Life Throws a Curveball: Trusting the Good in the Surprise

We make these beautiful, neat plans for our lives, don't we? We map out the next five years, we envision the perfect trajectory for our calling, or maybe even the perfect timeline for our temple covenants. We assume things will unfold exactly the way we've envisioned, the way we think is best.

And then, *surprise*. Life throws a curveball. Or maybe, like Forest Gump taught us, it feels like a box of chocolates—you truly never know what you're going to get.

The human mind craves order. We prefer the stability, the predictability. When the unexpected happens, whether it's a sudden change in assignment, a difficult conversation during missionary discussions, or just a week that derails your whole schedule, it forces us to pivot. It forces us to recalibrate.

It’s easy to get caught up in the 'what if' of the detour. We worry, we fret, and sometimes we even question the goodness of the process. But as we gather strength in our discipleship, we are reminded of profound promises from the Lord. These aren't just nice platitudes for a devotional; they are anchors for our souls.

All Things Will Work Together for Good

Two scriptures keep coming to mind when I think about this: Doctrine and Covenants 90—search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good—and Matthew 7, where the Savior speaks of asking, seeking, and knocking.

These verses teach us that the Lord’s gifts are always good. He gives bread, never stones. But here is the crucial, and sometimes challenging, part: we cannot disconnect the promise from the prerequisite condition. We can’t expect the good outcome if we aren't doing our part—if we aren't diligently searching, praying, and keeping our covenants.

The Stone and the Bread

Think about it: sometimes what we *think* we asked for—the bread—is replaced by something that feels heavy, sharp, and utterly crushing—a stone. Maybe the 'surprise' is a setback in your studies, a difficult companion, or a revelation that contradicts your current understanding. It feels like a boulder.

But the gospel reminds us that even those stones, when we turn to Him with faith, trust, and patience, will eventually reveal themselves to be the very thing we needed to become stronger, more Christlike, and more deeply acquainted with the Spirit.

This is the heart of being an internet missionary today. We are constantly facing surprises—the culture shifts, the questions get deeper, the answers aren't found in a single pamphlet. We have to learn to trust the divine curriculum, even when the lesson plan changes.

If you’re feeling like you’re navigating a surprising twist right now, remember the promise: He has got you. Don't let the unexpected paralyze you. Instead, let it be the catalyst that deepens your reliance on Him.

As we continue to live as latter-day Saints, we learn that discipleship isn't about having a perfect plan; it's about having a perfect Savior to fall back on when the plans fall apart. It’s about trusting that the Master Weaver has a hand on the shuttle, and even the tangled threads will form a beautiful tapestry.

If you are feeling the weight of a current surprise—a challenge in your personal life, or even a doctrinal sticking point—I invite you to bring it to our next gathering. We can work through it together. For those who want to practice navigating these tough questions before we meet, I highly recommend running through some scenarios with Davee. He's excellent at walking you through the hard questions an investigator might ask, helping you feel prepared for those moments when the 'stone' of a question arrives.

For deeper study, don't forget to check out the Book Club options in HolyPlaces, or join a Bible Study Group to discuss these principles with your local companions. Let's keep building that resilience together!