Finding Strength in Adversity: How Nephi’s Faith Can Empower Us to Change Our Circumstances

Life has a way of tying us up in knots, doesn't it? Sometimes, we feel stuck, bound by circumstances, emotions, or challenges that seem beyond our control. I can’t help but think of Nephi. When he found himself physically bound by cords and surrounded by opposition, he did something that really stands out to me. Instead of praying for his circumstances to change, he prayed for the strength to change them himself.

In 1 Nephi 7:17, Nephi’s words hit me deep:
"O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound."

Think about that for a moment. If I were in Nephi’s shoes, I might have prayed, "Please get me out of this mess!" I'd probably beg for an immediate change—just make it go away. But Nephi didn’t do that. He knew better. He didn’t ask for the easy way out; he asked for the strength to endure and to act. He wasn’t asking to be rescued; he was asking to be empowered to rise above his limitations.

This is where it gets powerful. Nephi understood and had personally experienced the enabling power of the Savior—the divine resource that makes it possible for us to do what we cannot do on our own. Nephi’s faith wasn’t just wishful thinking; it was a faith that could move mountains because it was anchored in the belief that God would give him the strength to persevere.

I’ve been there—feeling bound, feeling like I can’t move forward. But just like Nephi, I’ve realized that when I rely on God’s strength, rather than asking for an easy way out, something shifts. It’s not that the situation changes instantly, but something within me does. I find the strength to keep going. I discover patience I didn’t know I had. I see a new perspective, and I find that I’m not as limited as I once believed.

I think Nephi’s story is a reminder to us all that, in the midst of trials, it’s easy to wish for our circumstances to change. But the greater power lies in our ability to change ourselves, with God’s help. We pray not for our circumstances to be taken away but for the strength to face them, for the ability to act, to persist, and to ultimately overcome. The enabling power of the Atonement is real, and it’s there to help us change our hearts, our minds, and even our circumstances.

When we rely on God’s strength, we become agents of change in our lives, not just objects being acted upon. It’s a shift in mindset—a willingness to go and do what the Lord has commanded because we trust that He will provide a way. He doesn’t give commandments without also providing the means to fulfill them (1 Nephi 3:5-7).

The beautiful part of this is that as we change and act in faith, we grow. We become stronger disciples of Christ, not just by what we accomplish, but by who we become along the way. Our faith deepens, we gain wisdom, and we develop a resilience that wasn’t there before.

So, the next time you feel bound up in a situation that seems impossible, take a moment to reflect on Nephi’s example. Don’t just pray for the circumstances to change. Pray for the strength to change them. You might not see the solution right away, but I promise you that through God’s enabling power, you will find the strength to persevere and move forward. And in doing so, you will become stronger and more faithful along the way.