Exodus 16:12
Question
Murmuring seemed to come easily to the Israelites, and comes easily to the natural man in all of us. Yet Elder Maxwell reminds us that the difficult circumstances of our lives can be for our good.
How does Elder Maxwell’s counsel inspire you to focus on “being of good cheer” instead of murmuring?
Scripture
12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.
Exodus 16:12
Quote
Murmuring is defined as a half-suppressed resentment or muttered complaint…
Murmuring seems to come so naturally to the natural man…
Instead of murmuring… being of good cheer is what is needed, and being of good cheer is equally contagious…
Basic things over which the scriptures say we are to be of good cheer include the transcending blessing that our sins can be forgiven and that Jesus has overcome the world! These are marvelous blessings. Additionally, we are assured that the Lord is in our midst. He will lead us along. He will stand by us. By knowing that these everlasting things are firmly in place, can we not, then, better endure irritations?…
Furthermore, since God has told us He intends to try our faith and our patience, are not situations of stress the very settings from which such murmuring would emerge? Of course—unless we are careful.
God accomplishes things, brothers and sisters, “in process of time.” This calls for our patience. Moreover, doing things in process of time is often His way of either preserving our agency or of providing us with needed opportunity. In fact, certain experiences, over which we might understandably murmur, can actually be for our good. Thus you and I may think God is merely marking time, when He is actually marking openings for us, openings which are sorely needed.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
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