As a piano student, I learned that improving my skills took a lot of time and effort.
I had to memorize the names of the notes.
Then I had to practice the same tricky measure over and over.
And then I had to put in nuanced effort to make my pieces sound beautiful and expressive.
But let’s be honest…
Many people start piano lessons and then stop at some point!
Besides just not enjoying it, I think it’s pretty difficult to want to continue with lots of practice when we can’t see immediate results.
Why does it really matter if I practice the piano for 20 minutes today when it doesn’t seem like it’s really going to change anything?!
I’ve noticed the same lessons in my spiritual growth.
Does it REALLY matter if I pray every day?
Fulfill every calling I’m given to the best of my ability?
Study my scriptures every day?
It might not look like it makes a difference every single day.
In fact, maybe it won’t make a big difference either way today.
But we know that “. . . by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” (1 Nephi 16:29)
When we look at the comparison, things seem a little more clear:
Where would practicing the piano every day for 10 years get me?
And where would practicing the piano on-and-off for 10 years get me?
The end results are dramatically different, even if it’s hard to see the difference in the short term.
The “spiritual stuff” seems the same.
Listening to one conference talk today might not change my life.
But listening to a conference talk (almost) every day for 5 years?!
A small little decision that could end up affecting me in dramatic ways.
“When we exercise faith in Him and follow His counsel in small and simple things,… He blesses us with small daily miracles, and over time, with marvelous works.” —Steven C. Wheelwright
I want to immerse myself in good, spiritually uplifting things as much as possible every single day.
And trust that all those small decisions can add up to great things in my future!
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
