"I Will That Ye Should Overcome the World..."

The focus of the last series of posts has been on recognizing and overcoming our Goliaths. The subject of overcoming what we sometimes deem as the "impossible" is important to me because all too often in my own life I have been able to accomplish a task that without the help, guidance, and love of my Father in Heaven, I know I would have failed. I am reminded of a scripture that tells us what obstacles we are called to face:

"I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you" (D&C 64:2)

The strange factor in this wonderful and beautiful world that we live in is that whether keeping the commandments or due to disobedience to them, we will always face some sort of Goliath, and even possibly many throughout our life. Our personal Goliaths come in many shapes, forms, and sizes. The presented challenge may dramatically and instantly change your life forever, or it can have a much slower, yet just as degrading, effect over a long period of time. That is, if you do not find a way to overcome it.

One thing that we must all take great joy and confidence in is that our Savior, Jesus Christ has already overcome the world. His battle has been won and has already been proclaimed the victor because of his triumph over sin and temptation. When we place our trust, our faith, and hope in his redeeming Gospel, that is when we too will be able to overcome the world. Faith, trust, and hope, however, are all actions words that require our energy and heart. The Savior overcame death but it wasn't before he did his work. Similarly, we too must first work before we are able to remove the anguish and pain of our own personal Goliaths.

The following video is the story of an ordinary man named Chris Williams, who through tragedy, trial, and heartache, learned on a much more personal level his Savior and Redeemer. Through finding him by applying his teachings, the Goliath that Chris faced was able to be conquered.