I hear this constantly from my kids.⁣

Sometimes they CAN do something by themselves and I get to see them grow in their development. ⁣

Buuuuut a lot of times they can’t really do it by themselves. ⁣

Or it would be so much easier or faster if they let me help. ⁣

Don’t we feel that same pressure as adults?⁣

“Oh no, I can do it all by myself.”⁣

Whether or not we actually can. ⁣

Or whether or not it would be easier or faster if we let someone help. ⁣

We don’t want to bother anyone. ⁣

“The thing that thou doest is not good. ⁣

“Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: ⁣

“for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” (Exodus 18:17-18) ⁣

I’ve recently watched my ward family rally around someone in need in truly epic ways. ⁣

I think that’s one of the real purposes of small, local congregations. ⁣

To see the immediate, too heavy burdens, and to step in and mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. ⁣

I’ve had friends, family members, and ward members help to bear my burdens in too many ways for me to number. ⁣

There have been some beautiful experiences where the Lord has helped me release my pride and ask for or accept help that others selflessly give. ⁣

But even when others fail. ⁣

When people don’t help or support in the ways we wish. ⁣

The Savior is always there. ⁣

Saying, “You will wear away if you keep trying to do this all.⁣

“It’s too heavy for you alone. ⁣

“Let me help bear the burden with you.⁣

“Because I’ve already been through it alone.”⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I can do it all by myself!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Because there was someone who experienced almost everything in His mortal ministry alone. ⁣

It’s so easy to picture Jesus as a man who always had a smile on His face, surrounded by people. ⁣

But He was also very misunderstood, even in His lifetime, right?!⁣

Even His closest friends and dearest apostles didn’t fully understand what He was doing or what He could do. ⁣

When I feel all alone, this is my comfort to turn to:⁣

“I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me.” (D&C 133:50⁣)

He knows true loneliness. ⁣

And He endured it so that He could comfort us. ⁣

Life can be very lonely sometimes. ⁣

When there’s no one to relate to, or a friend who forgets something important, or kids who get sick and make you miss an event…

It’s okay to feel lonely. ⁣

But we don’t ever have to actually be alone, because Christ knows exactly what this feels like. ⁣

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Feeling lonely first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Meeting together as congregations. ⁣

Ward parties. ⁣

Ministering assignments. ⁣

And yet there are so many times when I have felt alone. ⁣

I’ve sat in a sacrament meeting, surrounded by people, and felt so alone. ⁣

I’ve been ready to ask for help when I desperately needed it, but the connection was never made. ⁣

I have felt alone. ⁣

There are times when it’s good to go into problem-solving mode and be the first to reach out and create your own social activities…

But other times,⁣

It’s just good to remember that Christ was alone a lot, too. ⁣

“I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone”. (D&C 76:107)

I know He had great friends. I’m sure He found people whose company He enjoyed.

But there was a lot of stuff that He had to do all on His own. ⁣

Even, at the end, His Father had to withdraw His presence. ⁣

Jesus was completely alone. ⁣

So that I don’t have to ever be that completely alone. ⁣

I’ve slowly learned to make my Savior a real friend. ⁣

I’ve become accustomed to the Spirit’s presence in my life. ⁣

I can always access God’s love, even when I’m not surrounded by people. ⁣

Social activities, good friends, “good wards”, they all come and go. ⁣

But I’ve learned to ALWAYS take comfort in the fact that my Savior knows what it’s like to have choirs of angels singing His praise, AND how to be more alone than I will ever be. ⁣

He is with me. ⁣

My kind, wise Heavenly Friend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post All alone in a social church  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.

Meeting together as congregations.

Ward parties.

Ministering assignments.

And yet there are so many times when I have felt alone.

I’ve sat in a sacrament meeting, surrounded by people, and felt so alone.

I’ve been ready to ask for help when I desperately needed it, but the connection was never made.

I have felt alone.

There are times when it’s good to go into problem-solving mode and be the first to reach out and create your own social activities…

But other times,

It’s just good to remember that Christ was alone a lot, too.

I know He had great friends. I’m sure He found people whose company He enjoyed.

But there was a lot of stuff that He had to do all on His own.

Even, at the end, His Father had to withdraw His presence.

Jesus was completely alone.

So that I don’t have to ever be that completely alone.

I’ve slowly learned to make my Savior a real friend.

I’ve become accustomed to the Spirit’s presence in my life.

I can always access God’s love, even when I’m not surrounded by people.

Social activities, good friends, “good wards”, they all come and go.

But I’ve learned to ALWAYS take comfort in the fact that my Savior knows what it’s like to have choirs of angels singing His praise, AND how to be more alone than I will ever be.

He is with me.

My kind, wise Heavenly Friend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Never really alone first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.