How do we raise gritty and resilient kids?

How do we teach children to keep trying over and over, even when it is difficult?

Even when they don’t see success?

How do you persevere and stay engaged, especially when things aren’t always “fun”?

I feel like I’ve noticed a shift in our church culture, too.

“Even in turbulent times, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is gritty and resilient. It helps us sift through unimportant distractions. It encourages us to keep moving along the covenant path.” —Lisa L. Harkness

How do we develop gritty faith?

The faith in Jesus Christ that is resilient? That isn’t dependent on immediate results?

The faith in Jesus that sustains even when the social aspect of church fails us?

The love for God that keeps us clinging to our covenants instead of getting swayed by every persuading opinion we hear?

“Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.” (Haggai 2:4-5)

The Lord asks us to get to work.

He asks us to cast our fears away and focus on hope and love instead.

He asks us to remember what God has done in the past in order to trust that He’ll keep His promises in the future, too.

Gritty faith.

It’s not a phrase I’ve heard very often, but it’s one that I really like.

The faith in Jesus Christ that keeps us moving forward, focused on the things that matter most, no matter what may come our way.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Gritty faith first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And instead of giving multiple talks, he would just give one, usually 4 or 5 minutes long.

I’ll be honest that because of this shift, I didn’t really remember much about what President Monson said in his talks.

But I DO remember one General Conference where it seemed like each speaker thanked President Monson for encouraging them to focus on the Book of Mormon for the past six months.

They each shared how their own lives had been blessed by following the prophet’s counsel.

I thought to myself: What did I miss?!

I didn’t even remember what President Monson had spoken about at the last conference.

I went back to read his message again, and sure enough, in his own flowery and poetry-filled way, there was this essential counsel from a prophet of the Lord to focus more on the Book of Mormon.

I really felt like I had missed the boat, and I made a promise to Heavenly Father that I would never take lightly or dismiss the words of His living prophet ever again.

It’s almost refreshing to read an account in the Old Testament this week where Haggai, a prophet of the Lord, tells the people in Jerusalem to change.

AND THEY DO.

“Then… the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him”. (Haggai 1:12)

It’s almost shocking compared to the rest of the Old Testament, right?!

They heard the words of the Lord through their prophet, and they obeyed.

And how did the Lord respond?

“Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.” (Haggai 1:13)

The Lord is with us when we take seriously the words of His prophets and decide to make a change!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Missing the boat  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But He also still had a terrible journey to Calvary where He was crucified!

I can’t even begin to imagine the compounding pain, both physical and emotional, that He had to endure.

It is quite literally unimaginable.

But here’s the thing that fascinates me:

Was Christ bitter about having to endure this heart-breaking experience?

Not at all.

Zechariah prophesied what the Savior would respond when asked:

“What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 13:6)

He said that this sacrifice happened in the house of His friends.

The people who should have loved and protected Him.

But instead betrayed, denied and crucified.

And He continues to call each of us His friends.

The Savior’s atoning sacrifice made Him even more loving and compassionate, instead of turning Him bitter.

So how are we doing with our own trials?

The trials that seem like nothing compared to what He had to endure, and yet still cause so much pain and heartache and loneliness.

Are we letting our trials turn us bitter? Drawing us away from God?

Or are we making sure that our trials and sacrifices are turning us into more loving and compassionate people, too?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Bitterness from trials first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I needed rest, a good massage, and a warm drink.

And yet, I felt spiritually and emotionally invigorated.

I’ve had this idea in my mind for a while that God isn’t asking for us to be comfortable.

And so I actually found it funny that in my choir concerts, one phrase we repeated over and over again from “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” was:

“Comfort and joy”.

God gives us tidings of COMFORT and of joy.

But I don’t think that means He wants us to get COMFORTABLE.

I think it means that He will comfort us and give us joy in the work we are doing.

“The Savior invites us, each day, to set aside our comforts and securities and join Him on the journey of discipleship.”

—Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Jews returning to Jerusalem had a lot of work to do— rebuilding walls, homes, and even the temple.

But, it seems like they spent a little too much of their focus on their own comfort.

“Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?” (Haggai 1:4)

Are you going to stay comfortable and ignore inviting the presence of the Lord into your midst?!

I could have slept a lot and put my feet up all last week instead of doing those concerts.

I probably would have felt more physically rested and comfortable.

But instead, I feel sore, and a little sleepy, and my voice is a bit lower than it normally is.

And I feel comfort. And joy. And rest. And peace.

There is so much goodness to put out into the world.

Let’s set our priorities straight, and get to work!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stop being comfortable  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.