It was so annoying!

From eating to speaking to sleeping…

I found that so many of my daily habits were affected by my inability to breathe through my nose.

When my sinuses finally cleared, I was so excited.

I could finally breathe through my nose again!

It was all I could think about.

And I quite literally prayed many prayers of gratitude for my nose.

I’m not going to lie; it usually is not fun to think about this truth:

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” (2 Nephi 2:11)

But it is true.

If I had never had a stuffy nose, I would have never felt gratitude for a clear one.

The negative opposition isn’t fun to experience.

This goes from things as trivial as stuffy noses or headaches…

To much more serious issues like family arguments, physical trials, or emotional issues.

These hard times can be really tough to dwell on.

But if we keep the proper perspective, we can use these hard times to teach us gratitude.

We can use opposition as fuel to keep constant gratitude in our hearts.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My stuffy nose  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

With a 6, 4, and 1 year old, this also means that I’ve had to deal with infants and toddlers and all the chaos that comes from trying to get little kids to sit still for an hour, all by myself.

I’m really really really good at feeling sorry for myself.

In fact, despite AMAZING ward members, friends, and teens coming to sit by me to help with the kids, for a long time I would always shed at least a tear or two thinking about just how dang hard this is.

Other people would talk about the amazing Spirit they felt in sacrament meeting, or how they are improving their worship during the sacrament.

And I’d always laugh.

“We are just in survival mode. I’m not going to enjoy sacrament meetings right now.”

You know how sometimes you just need some tough love?

I finally got the tough love I needed from the Lord about a year ago as I sat, feeling very sorry for myself.

“Stop thinking you have it worse than everyone else. ⁣And start focusing on why you are here.

“You can still find joy.”

Woah.

Exactly what I needed.

Joy. ⁣

It is not the absence of hard things.

It is focusing on the Savior, even when enduring hard things. ⁣

I’ve learned since then that I can handle kids during sacrament meeting and be miserable OR I can handle kids and still feel pure joy. ⁣

“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” – Russell M. Nelson

Come to my ward any Sunday, and you’ll still see me with some kids who really struggle in a quiet church environment (along with so many others who are willing to help).

But you’ll also see me feeling joy and praise and worship in the moments where I am able to.

It’s so tempting to want to wait for a future time to feel JOY.

But I have learned over and over that God doesn’t want us to delay joy.

And He’s so willing to help us figure out how to endure AND feel joy if we are willing to ask.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Sitting all alone first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“What have you learned from trials in your life?”

People were sharing some really powerful and beautiful responses.

But… I noticed that everyone who commented was sharing the “big trials” in their lives.

The dramatic, heart-breaking, life-altering trials that taught them dramatic and life-altering lessons.

Now while I’ve had my fair share of “big trials”…

Most of my life is made up of “small” afflictions.

Monday mornings. Lack of sleep. Bad attitudes. Lists of things to do. Small miscommunications with friends. Frustrating situations with a kid.

We are promised that God “. . . shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.” (2 Nephi 2:2)

Of course, the big trials can be so transformative.

But can God consecrate the small (but many) afflictions for my gain, too?⁣

Am I going to use my kid having a meltdown as fuel for my frustration OR as a way for me to practice my patience and love?⁣

Am I going to let my to-do list add to me feeling overwhelmed OR use it to practice prioritizing what matters most? ⁣

Am I going to let my miscommunication frustrate me and fester OR use it to practice love and forgiveness?

I’ve learned that a lot of it has to do with my decision whether or not to accept that my Heavenly Father will dedicate these mundane trials for my ultimate benefit!

I am in control of how much I let God into my life.

“Whatever the cause of your sufferings, your loving Heavenly Father can direct them to refine your soul.” -Anthony D. Perkins, Oct 2021

Yes, the big stuff.

But also the really normal, messy, frustrating, repetitive, draining little stuff, too.

When I choose to consecrate and dedicate it all to Him, I start to realize He is ready to help me learn and benefit from anything.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Monday mornings for my good?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.