Be of Good Cheer

One of my favorite promises in the Bible is in John 16:33 “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  I love this promise, because life is crazy!  And it seems like it only gets crazier!  But, regardless of what happens in our lives, we can be of good cheer! 
A few weeks ago I was visiting our mission president’s home and saw this sign above his entry way door.

As I looked at this sign I began to ponder on this great message that Christ taught.  I love that we have the power to choose to "be of good cheer."  Some days I fall into the grumbling and complaining trap and I feel like I can't get out, but as I remember the Savior, I recognize that I have the power to get out.

I've even found that I often receive my greatest joy and am able to "be a good cheer" as a result of the trials that I go through.  Let me share a story that demonstrates this principle.  It's from a man that participated in the Martin Handcart Company.  A pioneer handcart company that experienced terrible things.

“An old man in the corner … sat silent and listened (as a Sunday school class criticized the Martin Handcart Company) as long as he could stand it, then he arose and said things that no person who heard him will ever forget. His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.

“In substance [he] said, ‘I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there, too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.

“‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.’” He continues: “‘I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

“‘Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.’” (The Refiner's Fire)

While I have never been through anything as difficult as traveling in a handcart company, I have seen the Lord change who I am through my trials and I am so grateful that He feels I'm worth that effort.  God sees me for the person I can become, and He provides me with the way to become that person.  When I am in the midst of a trial, I can "be of good cheer" and overcome the grumbling trap as I recognize why God gives me trials.