Scripture Saturday — Mosiah 21:14-15

"And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions. And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage." (Mosiah 21:14-15)

God always hears and answers our prayers, but sometimes He doesn't answer them when or how we want Him to answer them. God answers in His own way according to His own timetable. He knows what is best for us. He sees the big picture while we see only very little.

When King Limhi's people were captured, taxed and slain by the Lamanites, they prayed for God to take them out of bondage. This scripture teaches us three important truths—

1) God is slow to hear our cries when we are wicked. If we pray only in times of crisis and disregard God at all other times in our life, we can expect that He will be slow to answer us. The scriptures teach us to pray always. President Howard W. Hunter taught: "If prayer is only a spasmodic cry at the time of crisis, then it is utterly selfish, and we come to think of God as a repairman or a service agency to help us only in our emergencies. We should remember the Most High day and night—always—not only at times when all other assistance has failed and we desperately need help." We must pray always in good times and bad times, with gratitude for what we have and not with anger for what we are missing.

2) God doesn't always 'deliver us from bondage'. Sometimes He lets us suffer knowing there is no other way we can learn an important lesson. Instead of asking why we are plagued with a particular challenge or disability, we ought to ask "What can I learn?" In this way, all experiences—even the difficult ones—will work out for our good.

3) God always helps us when we pray sincerely. While He may not take our problems away, God always provides a way. He will strengthen us in hard times if we seek His help. He will not give us any challenge we are incapable of bearing.