I looked at my floors, literally covered in crumbs from breakfast and lunch and headed toward the pantry to grab my broom.

This was my time to get stuff done before the little ball of energy woke up and needed me to be with him constantly.

That freedom, today, meant cleaning things up.

“Can you read this book to me?”

This was the time when I usually put a show on for my daughter so that I could be uninterrupted, but she was holding a book in her hand.

I could just tell by the way she asked me, that she needed my attention.

The spirit whispered to me that this was where I needed to spend my time today.

And so I spent my moments of “freedom” cuddled up with daughter on the couch, reading her books.

We ended up laughing a lot. She started pointing out letters that she saw.

It was a really fun moment.

When my son woke up, the floors were still covered in crumbs, and they didn’t get cleaned up until much later.

I also didn’t finish a work project that I had on my schedule until after the kids went to sleep.

I can’t “have it all”.

I can’t have an orderly home and well-adjusted kids and run a business and spend time with my husband and fulfill my calling and study my scriptures all at the same time.

I can’t bear all that.

It’s too much.

And then add in some trials…

I can’t bear all things that have been given to me.

But.

I’m okay with that.

I can still be of good cheer.

Because I don’t have to do all those things and be all those things at the same time.

Just like the little voice that gave me the confidence to walk away from the broom and pick up the book in that moment, the secret solution is the Savior.

He leads me along.

He gives me that quiet assurance that my kids will be fine if they watch another show while I finish up my task. Or whatever I need to know.

Life can be confusing and overwhelming.

And the Lord so lovingly gives us the blueprint of peace to follow:

“Ye cannot bear all things now;

“Nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.” D&C 78:18

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I will lead you along first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Yelling, gossiping, inappropriate media, being rude, being slothful, neglecting duties, pride… In this mortal world, we’ve got a lot to pick from!
Try out this “temptation inventory” with your temptation in mind:

• When is the last time you felt this temptation?

• When was the last time you gave in to your temptation?

• When is it easier to NOT give in to your temptation?

• When is it super easy to give in to the temptation?

• Do you expect to be tempted to indulge in your sin, or does it take you by surprise each time?

• Have you prayed for help in overcoming your temptation? If so, when was the last time?

Let’s look at what Alma taught about temptations:

For some reason, I think I’ve usually only heard this last phrase of the verse in Alma in isolation: “ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear”.

But when I read it this week, the phrase right before it jumped out to me:

Watch and pray continually, THAT YE may not be tempted above that which ye can bear.

We WILL be tempted more than we can bear – if we aren’t turning to God.

While we always have our agency, we are natural men and women.

If we are prideful, slothful, and ignore the Lord, we will be tempted more than we can bear.

We will sin.

So how do we avoid this?

Just flip it around!

If we are humble, always watching, and always praying, we will NOT be tempted more than we can bear!

Watching and praying are key elements.

Waiting for the temptation to arise, and then praying for power from God to overcome it.

Not necessarily praying that the temptation won’t come at all – but praying with confidence that God will keep His promise and help you to bear it well.

So try it out!

Become a better “watcher” and EXPECT temptations to come. Christ Himself was tempted while He was here on the Earth.

But then pray that you can draw on your Savior’s strength and power to bear and overcome those temptations, just as He did.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Temptation inventory first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.