It’s a scripture I’ve read and heard quoted throughout my life.

But I would venture to say that anyone who has asked a question during a prayer has experienced a time when no answer was received.

So… what advice does the Lord give to David Whitmer in his time of struggling? (D&C 30:3)

INQUIRE

and then

PONDER

Ask the Lord, of course.

But then ponder.

I can think of times where I pray and then my mind is brought to events way in the back of my memory. I usually view it as my mind randomly wandering…

Until I ponder about why the Spirit would bring that event to my remembrance.

And all of a sudden, the connection is made. The answer is clear. Or at least, a little more clear.

I can think of other prayers where my mind doesn’t seem to be brought anywhere. And then I have a very normal day. And then I ask the same question again in a different prayer, and suddenly my mind thinks about that random conversation I had with a friend at the park.

There was my answer to my prayer, and I didn’t even realize it.

And other times, I’ve asked. And asked. And asked.

And it feels like there’s nothing, although I have faith that there’s something.

Until finally, a year later, I look back and realize that my prayer was totally answered, piece by piece, day by day.

The Lord answers prayers when we ask.

But sometimes, and more often than I’d like to admit, I don’t even notice the little answers, the nudges, the guidance.

Pondering is that missing piece for me.

It’s that opportunity for the Lord to give answers, yes.

But it’s also the opportunity for the Spirit to show me that answers were already given in ways that I didn’t even notice.

Seek. Ask. Inquire.

PONDER.

And then, ye shall receive and find.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Inquire and ponder first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I created my study guide, which required reading through it multiple times, pulling out historical context and creating spiritual questions.

I wrote and recorded my podcast episodes for this week, and read it through at least two more times.

I read it again when I wrote and recorded my Big Picture Monday video.

I’ve read Section 5 recently… a lot.

And yet I still like to study the assigned Sections during the week so that it stays fresh in my brain.

And for quite literally the first time just today, this phrase jumped out to me in verse 34.

The Lord tells Joseph to “stop, and be still”.

I needed to read this phrase today.

I needed it TODAY.

The reminder that sometimes, I need to press pause. I need to stop. I need to say “no”.

But I need to use that “stopped time” not to just veg out and distract myself from my long to-do list.

Instead, I need to use those times to STOP and then BE STILL while connecting with God.

It’s important to stop, but it’s just as important to use that pause to just BE STILL.

To connect with God or rejuvenate my soul in some meaningful way.

And even though I’ve technically read these words dozens of times…

I needed to read them today so that the Spirit could teach me a little lesson that would answer the pleadings of my heart.

The scriptures are awesome.

The Spirit is awesome.

God is awesome.

Feeling grateful today.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stop, and be still first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I was recently thinking about a time when I was NOT looking for a new job – but I WAS looking for some more fulfillment in my life.

A random job opportunity popped up, and I browsed through the application info out of curiosity.

And then I knew.

I knew I needed to fill out that application.

And, to be honest, I knew deep down that I would ultimately get the job.

I applied, I got the job, and it changed the trajectory of my life.

But I had just been praying for a more fulfilled feeling with the things that were on my plate.

And yet, my God knew that I needed something different, and He was prepared to tell me exactly what that was.

The Brother of Jared had been praying for his family and friends to be spared from having their languages confounded.

Which led their large group on a journey across a wilderness and many smaller waters, ultimately bringing them to a seashore.

And then the Lord told the Brother of Jared, “Go to work and build… barges”, and he was given specific “instructions of the Lord”. (Ether 2:16)

The Brother of Jared just wanted protection and freedom for his family and friends.

And the Lord was ready to step in and give him the specific promptings and directions to build barges in order to lead them to a better future.

We obviously can’t control when these types of unexpected but specific answers come, but we can be prepared.

The Brother of Jared had great faith and called upon the name of God.

He was prepared for any kind of answer that he would receive.

He didn’t reason it away, check with his brother to see if he thought it was a good idea, wait a few weeks until it fit into his schedule a little better…

He and his brethren just went to work.

So are we ready to go when the prompting comes?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Unexpected answers first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Or prayed that you can sleep well… and then you do?

Or prayed that you’ll be able to get everything done before your deadline… and then you do?

There are a lot of prayers that are answered without fanfare. Without drama.

They are difficult to recognize because they look like natural happenings.

I think back to King Benjamin’s stinging words about being ungrateful and unprofitable servants.

How many answered prayers am I missing in my life?!

How many times do I pray for my little girl to grow and develop well… and then she does? How many times do I pray for my baby boy to take a great nap… and then he does?

I think of King Limhi and his people, who had been praying and pleading for help from the people in Zarahemla. They had sent out search parties, but never found them. The Lamanites’ oppression was so bad, and they needed relief! Finding people from Zarahemla would be their answer to their prayers.

And suddenly, a group of strangers arrive in the land. Limhi has them bound in prison. He plans to put them to death, but he’s curious why they are so bold, so he allows them to speak before killing them.

It isn’t until Ammon is permitted to speak that King Limhi realizes that these common, wandering strangers are the ultimate answer to their years of pleading.

Are we missing the answers?

Are we looking for fanfare and drama, all while missing the ordinary answers unfolding each day?

Quotation from Raymond A. Haeckel, Ensign, Dec 1990

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Unrecognized answers first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He was doing his best.

Preparing powerful sermons, sharing meaningful allegories, listening to the Spirit’s promptings.

But many of the Nephites still were not fully converted unto Christ and righteous living.

And then Sherem came.

He was smart. He was flattering.

He convinced many people to fall away from the gospel of Christ.

This was surely making the situation worse, right?!

Jacob’s prayers were not being answered.

Jacob and Sherem meet. Sherem says there is no Christ. Jacob says there is. Sherem asks for a sign. Sherem “fell to the earth” for many days.

When Sherem wakes up, he asks for all the people to be gathered together so he can speak to them before he dies.

The multitude is there to listen to Sherem.

Sherem speaks about the reality of Christ. The power of angels. Of the Holy Ghost.

And the people listening are overcome by the power of God. They all fell to the earth.

The result when they woke up?

“Peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures”.

Jacob’s prayers were answered.

In a completely unexpected way.

Things had to get much, much worse in order for the prayer to be answered.

But the prayer was answered.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Answered prayers first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.