Nephi Struggled Too

A lesson I found as I read the Book of Mormon , the mere principle of it is incredibly helpful and could be just what you’re looking for.

The past week I have been so frustrated, so full of rage & frustration, so deeply down in the dumps. Finally, within the past 24 hours I’ve been rising to the surface and seeking for answers to ‘where the heck I went’ as I’ve been out of reality and wanting to die. Extreme… but that’s pretty much the story of my life: Extreme.

Last night, Clark and I read in 2 Nephi 4: 18-35

[This is Nephi speaking]

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily ^abeset me.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have ^atrusted.

20 My God hath been my ^asupport; he hath led me through mine ^bafflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his ^alove, even unto the ^bconsuming of my flesh.

22 He hath confounded mine ^aenemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me ^aknowledge by ^bvisions in the night-time.

24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty ^aprayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been ^acarried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath ^avisited men in so much ^bmercy, ^cwhy should my ^dheart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 And why should I ^ayield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to ^btemptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my ^cpeace and afflict my soul? Why am I ^dangry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer ^adroop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the ^benemy of my soul.

29 Do not ^aanger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

30 Rejoice, O my ^aheart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the ^brock of my salvation.

31 O Lord, wilt thou ^aredeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of ^bsin?

32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my ^aheart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may ^bwalk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy ^arighteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine ^benemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

34 O Lord, I have ^atrusted in thee, and I will ^btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ^ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his ^dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

35 Yea, I know that God will give ^aliberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ^bask ^cnot amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the ^drock of my ^erighteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

Wow. I thought to myself – if NEPHI – this great man, a Hero nonetheless – can struggle as we do… wow. This amazed me. And how incredible is it that I came across this scripture just in the time I needed to hear it! Truly a miracle and a manifestation of God – that HE DOES HEAR MY PRAYERS!

I prayed last night and I prayed this morning for assistance and guidance in getting back on track. I hate my ‘down times’, but honestly – hearing that Nephi struggled with temptations and down times too was so comforting for me. I mean, I feel bad for Nephi – the he had to go through those times, but to see him pull through them with Faith and continued strength is such a inspiration for me. This morning, Clark and I had companion study and again, God heard my prayer as we read these scriptures:

D&C 11: 11-14

11 For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the ^alight which shineth in darkness, and by my ^bpower I give these words unto thee.

12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your ^atrust in that ^bSpirit which ^cleadeth to do ^dgood—yea, to do ^ejustly, to walk ^fhumbly, to ^gjudge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall ^aenlighten your ^bmind, which shall fill your soul with ^cjoy;

14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of ^arighteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

D&C 90: 24

24 Search ^adiligently, ^bpray always, and be believing, and ^call things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the ^dcovenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.

What a testimony boost. Absolutely amazing. I mean, I know why these scriptures hit me so hard and were so perfect in what I needed to hear. Because I asked God. It’s a simple as that.