Mountains

Psalms 18:36  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

We've had several long nights in a row with Eves lately, more so than normal.  Between fevers, new teeth, and trying to figure out her GI issues we are only averaging a couple hours of sleep a night.  As Nate and I pray at night, we always ask the Lord to help Evey sleep through the night.  And most nights, even after our fervent prayers, she doesn't.  I've been reading Elder Holland's book this week, For Times of Trouble, on the book of Psalms. A particular passage of his, answered my own personal prayers of why our specific prayers are not always answered in the way we ask.  He says this.

"Much of the miraculous help we find in the gospel is just that - a miracle from heaven, the power of divine priesthood, the attendance of angels administering to us through a very thin veil.  Those are gifts from God, manifestations of His grace.  They are provided for us without much control or power - or even much worthiness, it seems - on our part.
But other elements of God's miraculous help consist of things He does to, in effect, let us help ourselves.  Some paths we feel we just can't walk.  Some mountains seem just too high to climb.  Some steps are just too difficult to take.  When that is so, heaven does intervene, but often it is not too smooth out the path or remove the mountain or shorten the steps.  More often than not, God sends help in a different way.  He makes us stronger and more sure-footed.  In effect, He gives us bigger feet, stronger legs, a firmer back, more stiffened shoulders.  He deals with us rather than with the problem we face.  We then proceed with new strength, less slipping, and are all stronger for it."

So my prayers have been answered.  I have renewed strength to get through the day.  I have the energy I need to take care of the kids, and Nate has the energy he needs to manage his business.  We feel so humbled and grateful for all the unexpected lessons we are learning on our adventure with Evey.  How marvelous that the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and knows exactly what we need, when we need it.  We are blessed.