1 Nephi 3:31 - Laman's and Lemuel's Self-Doubts

In 1 Nephi 3:31, Laman and Lemuel reflect on the impossibility of the commandment they've been given to obtain the brass plates from Laban. I think that they were relatively justified in their doubts. They had already failed two attempts to get the plates. None of them seemed to be particularly skilled at bartering or burglary. And while their brother Nephi had great faith in the Lord, I think Laman's and Lemuel's doubts were centered mainly on themselves.
The exact doubts that they expressed were, "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he [Laban] is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?" The scriptures do not use italics to show emphasis, but if they did, I wonder if the exact quote wouldn't have been "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands?" Their doubt may not have been whether or not God could do this great thing, but whether or not they could do it. Perhaps they weren't doubting that God could work that miracle, but that God could work that miracle through them.

We who have faith know that nothing is impossible for God, but we who have experience know that many things are impossible for us. Laman had tried and failed to get the plates twice, and had concluded that he couldn't do it. Perhaps he shouldn't have given up so easy, but when a person fails as badly as he had, and nearly loses his life in the process, I can understand them being reluctant to try again. Some might say that he was just being realistic. Humans have their limits. He had felt that he had hit his.

But God is omnipotent. He has no limits. If He wants to do something, He can do it. And as Nephi knew, if God wanted someone else to do something, He would give them a way to do it. President Thomas S. Monson has said, "When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help." With that help, we can accomplish anything God wants us to do, even if it would have been impossible otherwise.

Sometimes, we doubt ourselves. We think that we're unqualified for or incapable of the work God wants us to do. But our abilities or inabilities aren't really part of the equation. Our power may be limited, but God's isn't. We may not be able to do something normally, but with God's help, we can do anything. When Laman and Lemuel were relying on their own capabilities, they were right; they could not obtain the plates, but when Nephi relied on God for guidance, God made a way for him to succeed. We may doubt our own abilities, and we may even be right to do so, but we should never underestimate what we can do with God's help.