The Old Testament teaches that you were created “in [God’s] own image” (Genesis 1:27). Just as your mother and father created your physical body, your Heavenly Father created your spirit. That’s why God is called the “Father of spirits” (Hebrews 12:9). This familial relationship means that you can turn to Him when you need help.
Because God is your Father, He loves you and wants to help you through your challenges. God’s love is constant. In the New Testament, Jesus explained that because God is perfect, He knows perfectly how to help you when you ask Him. And He wants to help—even more than a loving earthly father desires to help his children. “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11, 13).
Because God loves you, He doesn’t eliminate trials and hardships from your life. Death, illness, financial hardship, natural disasters, and many other difficulties are part of God’s plan for your long-term happiness because they allow you to learn and grow and become a better person. It may not seem like it when you are in the middle of a trial, but the Apostle Paul taught that this “light affliction” is only temporary and can lead to a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Every challenge you face can help you progress—especially if you turn to God for help.
You have no control over some of life’s difficulties; others are a direct or indirect result of your choices. Because He loves you, God gave you agency, or the freedom to make decisions. Your agency enables you to make good choices that lead to happiness; it also makes you accountable for bad choices, which lead to immediate or eventual unhappiness. God will not intervene in your choices; He allows you to decide for yourself and to learn from the consequences. Yet He does offer the ultimate help to overcome mistakes and sins—the saving power of Jesus Christ. No matter how bad your circumstances may become or how many wrong choices you may have made, you can always choose to change and find peace through Jesus Christ.
Even though God’s love for you is constant, you must turn to Him for help. Here are some things you can do to seek God’s assistance in your life:
Faith means you not only believe there is a God and that He is your Father, but you also have confidence that He can and will help you when you turn to Him—no matter how bleak life may seem. Faith is a first step to seeking His assistance in your life: “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
When you remember your true relationship with God—that He is your Father and you are His child—prayer becomes a welcome, comforting communication. Take your questions, conflicts, problems, and insecurities to your Father in prayer. He is all-knowing and all-seeing. He understands you. He waits for you to seek Him in prayer so He can guide, uplift, and comfort you.
The scriptures teach, “Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one.” In other words, every person is equal in God’s eyes; He loves all of His children. That verse continues, “He that is righteous is favored of God” (1 Nephi 17:35). That does not mean that God has favorites. It does mean that those who are righteous—those who follow Him and do what He asks—qualify for God’s favors, or blessings. When you keep the commandments, God blesses you.
When you seek God through faith, prayer, and obedience, you will find His help because God loves you. However, God does not always answer your prayers in the way you might expect. But God does answer, and He gives assistance in many ways. A few of those ways are listed below.
In His final teachings to His Apostles, Jesus Christ promised He would send “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” (John 14:26), who would speak peace to their souls. Through the Holy Ghost, you can feel a peace “which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), even when you don’t have all the answers. Problems may not disappear and their solutions may not be clear right away, but the peace of the Holy Ghost brings comfort and encouragement. The Spirit can also direct you in the decisions that you make. The Lord has taught, “Behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart” (D&C 8:2).
Even though they were written centuries ago, the truths found in scripture are eternal. When people study them now, they marvel that certain verses seem to be written specifically for them and their situations. This is not coincidence. God gives us scripture as instruction and direction in times of trial or uncertainty. You will find stories of God’s assistance to others. You will find teachings that are incredibly personal and meaningful to you. When you pray, you bring concerns and questions to God—and when you study and ponder the scriptures, He brings answers to you.
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Why are we commanded to love and “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13)? One reason is that it is often through our actions that God’s work is done—God may answer your prayers through the words and deeds of people around you. Accept help and concern from others when it is offered, and recognize God’s hand in your life.