Alma 57-58

The perseverance, endurance, patience, and faith, of the Nephites, in the face of very difficult circumstances, impresses me. For many months they suffered through the almost impossible circumstances of thin military ranks, dangerously low provisions, and an almost numberless foe trying to whittle them down and crush them. They had to try to maintain the fortifications they had against the hosts of enemy troops, and at the same time they were struggling to physically subsist upon their meager rations. And all the while they waited in anxiety, wondering when the government leaders would send them more soldiers and provisions, and why they could be taking so long. They struggled to maintain hope in spite of the fear that the government had broken down, and that they would not be receiving reinforcements, and that they were alone and without support. They feared their own utter destruction.

Their reaction to these afflictions is what impresses me:

10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people.

Their afflictions drove them to seek strength and comfort from God. Significantly, they echoed almost to a "T", the prayer that Alma the younger prayed during his missionary trip to reclaim the apostate Zoramites. In essence they too prayed for strength, comfort, and success.

This is a pattern I see among God's faithful people. The faithful pray only for strength to endure well their afflictions, not that their afflictions will be taken away. The faithful pray that they may be comforted, infused with hope, preserved from giving in to doubt and despair. The faithful also pray that by and by they might have success in achieving their righteous desires and in completing the work God has for them to do.

Just as He answered Alma's prayer before, so did He answer this prayer by this people:

11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.

He did comfort them. He did give them strength to endure. And He did by and by bless them with success.

Alma 57.
Alma 58.