Physical and Emotional Health: Lesson 181
Building Emotional Strength in the Lord
The Savior Can Help Us Increase Our Emotional Resilience
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
Emotions are the body’s normal response to daily experiences. Psychologists used to think that people only felt happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust. A study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that people have at least 27 different emotions. Sometimes, these feelings are light and easy to manage, like a summer breeze. Sometimes, we experience difficult emotions that may feel like whirlwinds.
Trees hit by whirlwinds often have roots that grow faster and thicker and spread out farther, strengthening the tree’s ability to endure. As the wind batters it, the tree also creates cell structures that make the trunk and branches thicker. In the same way, learning to respond to powerful emotional moments by following the Savior will strengthen your ability to endure.
As you study, invite the Holy Ghost to help you find ways you can seek the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when you experience emotional whirlwinds.
Lesson Purpose: To help you draw strength from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to cope with your emotional challenges.
Learn How
The whirlwinds in our lives
President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
On this journey, you will face times of hardship, personal trial, discouragement, and disappointment that can feel overwhelming. Perhaps you feel trapped in such a time right now. (“Find Your Strength in Jesus Christ,” For the Strength of Youth, Mar. 2024, 4)
In your notebook, record some of the whirlwinds you and other teens face today.
“Emotional resilience (sometimes referred to as emotional strength or psychological resilience) is the ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from stress and adversity.” (“Emotional Resilience Helps Us to Prepare for Emergencies,” Gospel Library)
Increasing your emotional resilience helps you develop appropriate ways to deal with the difficult thoughts and feelings you experience. You can learn to recognize how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are strengthening you when you feel this way and when They are prompting you to seek additional help.
President Holland continued:
During such times, please remember that your Heavenly Father loves you. He always has, and He always will. Because of His infinite and perfect love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to strengthen you and help you move forward. And Jesus came because He loves you deeply too. (“Find Your Strength in Jesus Christ,” For the Strength of Youth, Mar. 2024, 4)
love, hope
The Savior promises to be with and strengthen you
To help you understand the Lord’s strengthening power, reflect on the prophet Joshua. He was called by the Lord to lead Israel after Moses. Joshua found himself in a tough spot, taking on the roles of prophet and military leader, to establish a new nation. Imagine the emotions he must have felt in that situation.
Read Joshua 1:1, 5–9. Mark what the Lord promised Joshua as he faced these challenges.
Answer the following questions in your notebook:
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Describe your ability to cope with emotional challenges. Which emotions do you think you navigate well? Which still feel difficult?
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Describe your ability to receive help from the Lord for these emotions. What successes have you had? What have you tried that did not work as well as you had hoped?
Dig Deeper: The resource “Facing Challenges: A Self-Help Guide” could be used to help you better name the emotions you are feeling.
Ponder on His word
Read Joshua 1:8, again looking for what would help Joshua follow the Lord. As Joshua faced his challenges, the Lord invited him to meditate on or ponder the scriptures (the “book of the law”) day and night. One way you can find emotional strength in the Lord is through pondering the scriptures.
Select an emotion from the list below that you are feeling or have felt. Read the scripture next to the emotion. Ponder the words of the passage by asking yourself questions such as the following:
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What words or phrases would be helpful when I am feeling this way?
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What does this scripture help me understand about the Lord’s love and power?
Tag each passage with the emotion mentioned or tag it with an emotion with which you think the verse could assist.
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Overwhelmed: Isaiah 40:28–31
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Afraid: John 14:27
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Sad: Revelation 21:3–5
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Forgotten: Luke 12:6–7
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Discouraged: Isaiah 43:1–2, 5
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Lonely: Doctrine and Covenants 68:6
Find another passage of scripture that you feel could assist you when seeking emotional help. You might find passages by looking at doctrinal mastery passages, searching for words such as comfort, peace, strength, and hope. You might tag additional passages as you find them.
Dig Deeper: For additional scripture references dealing with emotions, see the article “12 Scriptures for When You Feel …“ (Kyla Kaye Hill, For the Strength of Youth, Mar. 2024, 41).
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you draw strength from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to cope with your emotional challenges.
Share the following with your teacher or class:
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The scriptures you pondered or found and how you feel they can help you face emotional challenges.