Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s reminder that adversity isn’t defeat — it’s divine positioning for growth.
Excerpt
Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s 11th guideline for righteous living reminds us that being surrounded doesn’t mean being defeated — it can mean we’re exactly where God can shape our strength.
Intro
Sometimes the hardest part of life isn’t the trial itself but feeling isolated in the middle of it. Whether at home, at work, or even within the walls of the Church, we all face moments when we feel surrounded by pressures, criticism, or misunderstanding. My sensitive nature often magnifies those moments, and for a while, I let them weigh me down. But Guideline #11 from Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s Guidelines for Righteous Living taught me to see those moments differently.
This week’s message — “Don’t be discouraged if you are surrounded” — became my antidote to discouragement. It reminded me that spiritual resilience is not found in escaping trials, but in seeing their divine purpose from the inside out.
Notes from Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- “Don’t be discouraged if in the course of your lifetime the Church seems to be surrounded and outnumbered.”
- Elder Maxwell shared the example of General Chesty Puller, one of the most courageous officers in U.S. Marine Corps history. When his troops were surrounded, he famously said: “At last we have the enemy just where we want him. We’re surrounded, and now we can fire in every direction.”
- Elder Maxwell then pointed to the inner battles we face: “Remember that bad breaks need not ruin a good man or a good woman.”
- He used the example of Joseph in Egypt, saying that if any man besides Job had bad breaks, it was Joseph — yet Joseph rose above them and became significant because he refused to let those breaks become an excuse for failure.
- Elder Maxwell concluded, “So often, my young brothers and sisters, in life opportunity comes disguised as tragedy. It doesn’t drop its disguise right away. It’s sometime before you begin to see that it’s opportunity behind that mask.”
Perspective
The message of Guideline #11 reaches every season of discipleship — when we feel alone, misunderstood, or “outnumbered.” General Puller’s courage turns fear into opportunity: being surrounded doesn’t mean defeat, it means there’s purpose in every direction. Joseph in Egypt faced betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment, yet he didn’t curse the darkness. He used those setbacks as steps toward his divine calling.
The pattern is clear — those who trust God in their confinement will see that their obstacles were not barriers but building blocks toward greatness.
Practice (today, not someday)
When discouragement closes in, I remind myself that perspective changes everything. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” I now ask, “What is this preparing me for?”
At work, at home, or in private struggles, I can practice this truth by responding with faith instead of frustration. Every “bad break” becomes a training ground for humility, empathy, and endurance.
Final Reflection
Elder Maxwell’s teaching reminds me that God does not waste adversity. What looks like being surrounded is often God positioning us for strength we could not have gained otherwise. The disguise of tragedy eventually falls away, and behind it stands opportunity — glowing quietly like light breaking through the fog.
When I feel cornered, I remember: this is not the end of the story. This is the place where faith fires in every direction.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Discouragement is temporary; divine positioning is eternal. What surrounds me cannot destroy me if I stand still and trust His plan.
What I Hear Now
“So often, my young brothers and sisters, in life opportunity comes disguised as tragedy. It doesn’t drop its disguise right away. It’s sometime before you begin to see that it’s opportunity behind that mask.”
— Elder Neal A. Maxwell
📸 Photo Caption (BTS)
Behind the Shot: I arrived before dawn at the Snake River, tripod and remote in hand, waiting for the first light to touch the Idaho Falls Temple. The air was still, the river smooth under a long exposure, and the temple lights glowed softly across the water. Surrounded by darkness, I felt peace. The scene became my quiet reminder that even before the sun rises, His light is already here.
© 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.
