One phrase stopped me today: "They did humble themselves even in the depths of humility." (Mosiah 21:14)
Humility isn't always something we choose. Sometimes life chooses it for us. Illness, family struggles, financial problems, disappointment, or consequences of poor choices eventually bring us to the place where we realize, "I can't fix this myself."
I've been there.
Years ago, I spent nearly a decade trying to solve a difficult problem on my own. I'd make a fresh start, only to find myself right back where I'd begun. Everything changed when I finally admitted I couldn't do it alone. I turned to the Lord, but I also reached out to those who loved me—my parents, siblings, friends, and ward family. They became the hands of the Lord in my life. Their support, combined with the Savior's strength, carried me until I could stand on my own feet again.
I love what happens next in Mosiah's account. The people "began to prosper by degrees." Deliverance wasn't immediate. It came one step at a time. First their burdens became lighter. Then hope returned. Eventually came complete deliverance.
Sometimes we pray for miracles when the Lord intends to change us a little at a time. He often delivers us by degrees because those small victories teach us to keep depending on Him.
If you're in the middle of something that feels impossible, don't mistake gradual progress for unanswered prayers. The Lord may already be delivering you—even if you haven't reached the end of the journey yet.
Once the Lord opened the way, the people still had to work together. They counseled together, made a plan, and each person did his part. Faith didn't replace effort; faith united their efforts. The Lord provided the way, but the people still had to walk it.
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