People in the streets were saying that Saul had slain thousands of wicked people, but David had slain tens of thousands of wicked people. ⁣

Saul did NOT like this comparison! ⁣

“Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him… And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” (1 Samuel 18:8-9) ⁣

Saul couldn’t be happy that the threat of destruction from the Philistines was gone because he was bothered that David had done even more than he had done. ⁣

AND people were noticing the difference! ⁣

Do we ever get caught up in this mind game of comparison? ⁣

It can be difficult to be confident with our act of service, our family scripture study, or our sacrament meeting talk in church if we are constantly comparing what we are doing to everyone else. ⁣

Our family scripture study looks very simple right now. ⁣

And when I think about it, I feel this little confirmation and peace in my heart that it’s perfect for what my family members need right now. ⁣

It’s only when I start to hear what some other people are doing for scripture study that I start to feel inadequate. ⁣

But I’ve also realized that this trap of comparison is so self-focused and has literally nothing to do with my relationship with God. ⁣

Is my version of family scripture study teaching us more about God and Jesus? Awesome. That’s what it’s supposed to do.⁣

And if other families accomplish that same goal in different ways, I’m gonna cheer them on for turning closer to the Savior too. ⁣

So if the teacher in church the week after you gives an amazing lesson that everyone won’t stop talking about, awesome. More people turned toward Jesus. ⁣

If someone else’s kid has a better knowledge of the gospel than yours, good for them! More people with a knowledge of Jesus. ⁣

We’re all on our own path.

Saul couldn’t stop comparing himself to David, and it ended up causing a lot of issues for his heart. ⁣

When it comes to building up the kingdom of God and becoming like Jesus, the more the merrier.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Saul vs David first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve thought about this question a lot.

I can clearly and embarrassingly think back to times in my life where I was super judgmental and worried about other people.

From things as silly as clothing choices to things as serious as how others have handled trials, I’ve judged and compared.

Sometimes to make me feel better about myself.

And other times as a way to feel I wasn’t good enough.

Either way… not great.

As I’ve tried to “spiritually mature”, I’ve really been focused on the idea that the cure to comparison is COMPASSION.

Seeing a mom handle her kid in a way I wouldn’t and feeling compassion.

Seeing a mom celebrate a minor holiday in an elaborate way that her kids love and feeling compassion.

Hearing someone who is struggling with their relationship with the church and feeling compassion.

Hearing someone with much more gospel knowledge and greater study habits than I have and feeling compassion.

The prophet Micah taught:

“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us”. (Micah 7:19)

The Lord has endless compassion.

Over and over, He turns toward us and extends His compassion and His understanding.

And I think He invites us to feel that same kind love for each other.

To be freed from the weight of needing to nudge and compare, to put down others or ourselves, and to add distance.

And to instead experience just a portion of the same compassion He encompasses.

Compassion over comparison.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Compassion over comparison  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

People in the streets were saying that Saul had slain thousands of wicked people, but David had slain tens of thousands of wicked people.

Saul did NOT like this comparison!

“Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him… And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” (1 Samuel 18:8-9)

Saul couldn’t be happy that the threat of destruction from the Philistines was gone because he was bothered that David had done even more than he had done.

AND people were noticing the difference!

Do we ever get caught up in this mind game of comparison?

It can be difficult to be confident with our act of service, our Family Home Evening lesson, or our sacrament meeting talk in church if we are constantly comparing what we are doing to everyone else.

Our family scripture study looks very simple right now.

And when I think about it, I feel this little confirmation and peace in my heart that it’s perfect for what my family members need right now.

It’s only when I start to hear what some other people are doing for scripture study that I start to feel inadequate.

But I’ve also realized that this trap of comparison is so self-focused and has literally nothing to do with my relationship with God.

Is my version of family scripture study teaching us more about God and Jesus? Awesome. That’s what it’s supposed to do.

And if other families accomplish that same goal in different ways, I’m gonna cheer them on for turning closer to the Savior too.

So if the teacher in church the week after you gives an amazing lesson that everyone won’t stop talking about, awesome. More people turned toward Jesus.

If someone else’s kid has a better knowledge of the gospel than yours, good for them! More people with a knowledge of Jesus.

We’re all on our own path.

Saul couldn’t stop comparing himself to David, and it ended up causing a lot of issues for his heart.

When it comes to building up the kingdom of God and becoming like Jesus, the more the merrier.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Saul’s comparison first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I played a musical number on the piano in church last week, and someone came up to me and said that.

In the same moment I both laughed and cringed.

I realized that I just happened to have recently shown off a few of my strengths at church by playing the piano, speaking, and teaching.

I thanked my friend for the compliment, but reassured her that I was plenty bad at plenty of things.

You will never see me publish a cookbook. Or if I do, please, please, don’t buy it.

But I also cringed because I suddenly realized that she was feeling about me the same way that I have felt about other people!

“They have it all together!” “They have so many talents!” “Their life is so easy!” “They take so many amazing vacations!”

I’ve been there.

And I think most of us have been there, too. Jealousy is an emotion that happens in this fallen world a whole lot.

The Lord taught some of the saints, who were arguing about who could write the most eloquently, in D&C 67:10 to:

“Strip yourselves from jealousies and fears”.

But how do we do that?

How do we get rid of the jealousy that creeps up everytime we see someone who has things better than we do?

Who has more talents or more friends or a stronger testimony or better behaved kids than we do?

I learned one solution a few years ago that has totally transformed my attitude:

I become their cheerleader.

You are going on an amazing vacation? Awesome! I want to hear all about it and see all your pictures, and I want to feel genuine joy that you got to have that experience.

You are experiencing a success that I wished I had? I take that little ping of jealousy that creeps up and I turn it into thinking about how happy you must feel. How proud you must be to accomplish that goal.

You are moving into THAT new house? In THIS market?! AWESOME! Way to go! That will be so cool for your family, and I hope it turns into your forever home that you love.

Its pretty powerful.

It puts things in perspective to shift from a competition where I’m winning some races and losing others…

To instead think about how we all have our own race to run.

It doesn’t help to compare the races, whether that makes me feel better or worse about myself.

Instead, I just want to cheer everyone on with any little progress they make on their pathway home.

To strip myself of all jealousies and just love, encourage, and cheer my brothers and sisters on.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Getting rid of jealousy first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.