God prepares a way for us to fulfill His commandments. That principle is clear throughout Nephi’s writings. (See 1 Nephi 3:7, 1 Nephi 17:3.) But the way isn’t always immediately evident, and it doesn’t replace our personal efforts.
When God commanded Nephi to build a ship, Nephi must have had some sense of the magnitude of the project. He tells us that he didn’t build it “after the manner which was learned by men,” (1 Nephi 18:2) which suggests that he had at least a general idea how ships are normally built. His immediate response to this commandment says a lot about his attitude toward challenging assignments:
Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me.
1 Nephi 18:9
Notice how tactical his request is. He was focused on the first step, the thing he needed to do in order to get started. He needed tools, and he knew he would need to forge them himself. All he asked for was guidance on where to find the ore.
Twice in this request, Nephi says, “that I may…” His prayer was not so much a plea for blessings as a request for direction. He was willing to do the work, and he had confidence that God would help him complete the task. He just needed to know where to start.
Elder Dale G. Renlund emphazed the role of action in receiving God’s blessings:
A fire…must receive a constant supply of oxygen for the wood to ultimately release its full potential…. Small actions fuel our ability to walk along the covenant path and lead to the greatest blessings God can offer. But oxygen flows only if we figuratively keep moving our feet. Sometimes we need to make a bow and arrow before revelation comes as to where we should search for food. Sometimes we need to make tools before revelations come as to how to build a ship.
“Abound with Blessings,” General Conference, April 2019
Today, I will pray with an attitude of action. I will ask for the help I need to take my next step. I will trust that as I move forward, God will continue to provide the help I need along the way.
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