When the Crises Hit: Finding Our Anchor in the Storm

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve ever felt the ground shift beneath your feet—if you’ve seen a friend who seemed perfectly blessed suddenly stumble, or if you’ve faced a trial that just *will not* quit—you know the feeling. It feels unfair. It feels like the Lord has forgotten the covenants we made, or worse, that He’s watching us from a distance.

I remember a time in my own missionary days, right after what felt like a perfect assignment. We were doing well, feeling the Spirit, and then… life hit. Not a big, dramatic thing, but a slow, grinding inconsistency. The easy answers stopped coming. The feeling of constant divine companionship seemed to waver. I remember thinking, “If I’ve done everything right, if I’ve kept my wards clean, why is this happening to me?”

It’s a question that has haunted the hearts of the Saints since time immemorial. It’s the question that echoes in the deepest parts of our hearts when we are confronted with the mystery of suffering. It’s the question of Asaph.

We were recently looking at a beautiful devotional that touched on this very subject, drawing from Psalm 73. It spoke about Asaph, a man of great talent, deeply connected to the temple and the worship of the Lord. He had the pedigree, the devotion, the visible blessings. And yet, he hit a spiritual low point, asking the agonizing question: *Why do the just suffer, and the wicked prosper?*

If you’re feeling like Asaph right now—if you feel like you’ve done the right thing, you’ve studied the scriptures diligently, you’ve kept up with your temple attendance, and yet the world seems to be operating on a different set of rules than the gospel—please know you are not alone. This feeling is part of the journey, the very thing that turns us into resilient disciples.

The trap, I realized, is believing that our current circumstances *should* align perfectly with our past faithfulness. We build this beautiful picture in our minds: *Because I served, therefore I deserve ease.* But the Savior knows that life is not a reward vending machine. The crises—the spiritual, the physical, the relational—they don't check our service records. They hit everyone, regardless of their callings or their perceived righteousness.

What did Asaph learn? He had to move past the expectation of *how* God *should* act, and instead, learn to trust *who* God *is*. He had to adjust his life, not to avoid the storm, but to learn how to navigate it while keeping our focus fixed on the Savior. The purpose of the valley isn't punishment; it’s refinement. It’s where we learn to rely on the Spirit when our own strength, our own good works, and our own earthly status fail us.

This is the core of being an internet missionary today. We are constantly being tested by the noise, the cynicism, and the sheer difficulty of sharing the restored gospel in a complex world. We can’t rely on perfect circumstances. We have to rely on the covenant path, on the priesthood power, and on the unwavering testimony of the Savior.

If you are wrestling with this—if you are questioning the fairness of the plan—I invite you to sit with this scripture. Don't try to solve it with logic or with more good deeds. Just bring it to the Savior. Let Him teach you the greater plan.

If you want to dig deeper into how to process these tough questions, I highly recommend checking out Davee. He’s fantastic at walking through the tough, probing questions an investigator might ask, helping us build answers rooted in truth and grace. He’s a true resource for our missionary preparation!

As always, remember that every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s keep studying, let’s keep ministering, and let’s keep adjusting our hearts to fit the Lord’s perfect, sometimes mysterious, timing.

Join the Study: Don't Walk This Path Alone

If this topic resonated with you, I encourage you to join a local Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. There is strength in shared inquiry. If you're looking for something immediate, we're hosting a free weekly Disciple Challenge this week—a great way to practice sharing your testimony in a low-stakes, supportive environment. Details are in the comments below!