It seemed like every minute had some sort of planned-out commitment, and my brain was at capacity trying to keep track of it all.

And then, my daughter came home with a note in her backpack.

The note explained an upcoming dress-up day at school and an extra project she needed to finish at home. 

I felt like my world had just exploded.

I was barely hanging on, and now I had to add these new things into the mix?!

I immediately said to God, “Why?! Why can’t I get a break? I need a rest!”

Immediately, a surprisingly silly answer came into my mind… the actual answer doesn’t matter as much as the result:

It helped me realize how insignificant my current problems were in the grand scheme of things.

I was able to laugh, set some boundaries, and move forward while having fun during that busy week. 

Sometimes, I’m like Joseph of Egypt, who could clearly see his trials for what they were:⁣

“God meant it unto good”. (Genesis 50:20)⁣

And other days, I’m more like Joseph’s brothers who blamed God for every poor circumstance they found themselves in:⁣

“What is this that God hath done unto us?” (Genesis 42:28) ⁣

I think I’m going to give myself grace for the days that I feel like Joseph’s brothers. ⁣

I’m gonna pray a lot more, because boy, does God like to answer prayers in exactly the way I need them answered. ⁣

And I hope I can get better at sticking with Joseph of Egypt’s humble mindset. ⁣

It’s all for my good!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s all for my good  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It was the expectation that my sisters and I would help set the table and get the food ready to be served. ⁣

The problem was… ⁣

They always asked me to come and help at the most inconvenient times.

I was always in the middle of some math problem, or writing an essay, or reading a book, or talking with a friend. ⁣

It was never a good time. ⁣

And so, more often than I care to admit, about five minutes later, the call would come up the stairs again, “Cali, we need your help! Come on down!”⁣

The thing about calls to service are that they rarely come at a convenient time. ⁣

Whether it’s your mom, your kid, your neighbor…⁣

I’m sure I’m always “in the middle of something”. ⁣

But what I’ve learned as I’ve matured, and thank goodness that teenage Cali matured, is that service isn’t about us. ⁣

My parents weren’t trying to inconvenience me and annoy me and make my life harder. ⁣

They just straight up needed help. ⁣

My mom or dad had already just made dinner for me (DEFINITELY did not appreciate that as much as I should have!), and they were asking for help getting everything ready to go on the table. ⁣

And my sisters who may had already gotten downstairs needed help with their tasks so it wasn’t all on them. ⁣

This was not about me and if I was in a convenient stopping point. At all. ⁣

It was about the people who needed help. ⁣

When the Lord called someone to serve in D&C 117:14, the reason given for him to come speedily to fulfill his assignment wasn’t just because the Lord wanted him to be rushed and inconvenienced. ⁣

It was “for the benefit of my people.”⁣

People around us need help. And when they ask for help or when we feel that prompting, it’s not about what works best for us. ⁣

(Although yes, I’m all for setting healthy boundaries when needed.)⁣

But ultimately, it’s all about the benefit of the person in need.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Inconvenient service 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.

It was the expectation that my sisters and I would help set the table and get the food ready to be served.

The problem was…

They always asked me to come and help at the most inconvenient times.

I was always in the middle of some math problem, or writing an essay, or reading a book, or talking with a friend.

It was never a good time.

And so, more often than I care to admit, about five minutes later, the call would come up the stairs again, “Cali, we need your help! Come on down!”

The thing about calls to service are that they rarely come at a convenient time.

Whether it’s your mom, your kid, your neighbor…

I’m sure I’m always “in the middle of something”.

But what I’ve learned as I’ve matured, and thank goodness that teenage Cali matured, is that service isn’t about us.

My parents weren’t trying to inconvenience me and annoy me and make my life harder.

They just straight up needed help.

My mom or dad had already just made dinner for me (DEFINITELY did not appreciate that as much as I should have!), and they were asking for help getting everything ready to go on the table.

And my sisters who had already gotten downstairs needed help with their tasks so it wasn’t all on them.

This was not about me and if I was in a convenient stopping point. At all.

It was about the people who needed help.

When the Lord called someone to serve in D&C 117:14, the reason given for him to come speedily to fulfill his assignment wasn’t just because the Lord wanted him to be rushed and inconvenienced.

It was “for the benefit of my people.”

People around us need help. And when they ask for help or when we feel that prompting, it’s not about what works best for us.

(Although yes, I’m all for setting healthy boundaries when needed.)

It’s all about the benefit of the person in need.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s not a good time first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.