How Do You Respond To Adversity?

I am doing a "100 Day Book of Mormon Challenge". Today is day 45, reading Alma 14-16. It is complete with quotes that go along with the reading, and thought provoking questions. Today's question is "How do you respond to adversity?". I'm not sure how to answer this. My first response is simply 'not very well'. I know how I would like to respond - with such faith and trust in the Lord that I can go through any trial with a smile on my face and confidence that all will be well. Instead I tend to scowl and worry. I do have faith and trust in my Savior but sometimes I have trouble translating that into my thoughts and actions.

More often I need to remind myself that this is what we are here for, this is what I am here for. Not to gain financial stability, not to make sure my family and I are entertained 24/7, not to be carefree. I came here, to this Earth, to prove myself. Yes, this (life) is a test. The ultimate, hands on, open book, completely practical and comprehensive test. What I am faced with, tried with, and tested with does not matter. What does matter is how I act. How do I treat the people around me in any given situation? How do my actions testify of my faith in Christ? Am I listening to and obeying the promptings of the Holy Ghost?

Elder Marion D. Hanks says, "The right question to ask is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?".

We all have trials. We all have our own struggles. And we will all have the opportunity to choose how we will respond. Our current Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson reminds us;

"Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems

to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all.

Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges,

forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required."

A small example: Last night my almost 3 year old decided it was necessary to wake up every half hour until 1:30 a.m.. Every time he woke up I said a little prayer that he would be able to sleep. Was I worried about his well being? No. I was angry and frustrated that MY sleep was being interrupted. Obviously my prayers weren't working. So I lay there, I take a deep breath, and I wonder, "What is going on here?". My son told me that he was tired, he wanted to sleep, he didn't know why he kept waking up. As I calmed down and decided to be patient (instead of frustrated and demanding), an answer came. Say a prayer WITH him. So I did. He welcomed the idea and by his sweet faith he slept much better. Through my chosen response I learned patience, and maybe even some reasoning skills. He learned that Heavenly Father answers prayers. 

Can we learn from a test? Yes, the test of life is all about learning. President Spencer W. Kimball said;

"Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience,

long suffering and self-mastery. 

The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education."

Our Savior lived on this Earth and went through more trials, pain and heartache than we could possibly imagine. And we know how He responded - with compassion, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and pure love. Through our own trials we are getting the same "education" that He did. He passed perfectly and we can look to Him for answers. We can also be confident in our ability to rise to any challenge and overcome adversity.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way

to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I am so far from perfect it's ridiculous! But I take heart from the fact that I am pointed in the right direction. I want to be good, I want to make the right decisions, I want to have joy in this life no matter my situation. I want to respond to adversity well.