President Henry B. Eyring on waiting on the Lord when tests come

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"The good works that really matter require the help of heaven. And the help of heaven requires working past the point of fatigue so far that only the meek and lowly will keep going long enough.

"The Lord doesn’t put us through this test just to give us a grade; he does it because the process will change us....

"If we are going to do our duty, we are going to need the powers of heaven. And if we are going to be given access to the powers of heaven, we are going to have to learn to wait upon the Lord.

"The word wait in scripture language means to hope for or anticipate. Surely the great prophet Isaiah meant that, and I think he meant more, when he made us a glorious promise....

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)"

- Henry B. Eyring, "Waiting Upon the Lord," BYU Devotional, Sept 30, 1990
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This was a fascinating excerpt from President Eyring. There are tests and challenges in life, and we are asked to continue faithful in good works, come what may. But there are times for all of us when enduring in that faithfulness is challenging; sometimes we truly are asked to work "past the point of fatigue." President Eyring suggests that we are not able to do that alone; it requires us to be "meek and lowly" enough to seek the help of heaven:

And it's important to realize why the tests in life, of whatever kind, come to us. They are not tests in the sense we might consider in an educational setting, evaluating our status or progress in order to grade our position. Rather, they are part of the process of changing and educating us in our journey.

And so we learn to "wait upon the Lord." As President Eyring suggests, this involves hoping or anticipating, knowing that His help comes, that His wisdom is expressed in any trial or difficulty and that "all things shall work together for your good" (D&C 90:24) in His care.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)