Feasting on the Word

This morning I began reading 2 Nephi chapter 2.  I only got to the 2nd verse!
 "Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine ^aafflictions for thy gain."

 The last phrase struck a chord with me and I tried to move on, but kept moving back to it:
"...he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain."

Footnotes:  2a Micah 4:13; 2 Nephi 32:9; TG Affliction

Micah 4:13 "Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt ^abeat in pieces many people: and I will ^bconsecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth."

2 Nephi 32: 9  But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

A question that popped into my head was....is what I consider an affliction the same thing that Heavenly Father considers an affliction?  Am I just a whining brat that doesn't want to deal with any affliction or trial?  Or are my afflictions and trials Heavenly Father's way of teaching me, reminding me, and/or chastening me to do the things I should.

I like the first part of the Micah verse, "Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass:..." 
From this I learn that my aflictions will make me stronger!

From 2 Nephi 32:9 I learn that I need to pray and rely on the Lord more to get through my afflictions!

My realization is that my Heavenly Father loves me, in spite of me being a whining brat. He will be there for me if  I turn to Him, regardless if the affliction I perceive is minor or major.  If it causes His child distress, He will be there for me, and all these things shall give me experience and shall be for my good!

Daily Challenge:  Read all the Scriptures found in the Topical Guide under Affliction!

Well.....no baby showers for Eddie!  We lived through this one!
My only question is....What's next?

Wordless Wednesday January 23, 2013