And I used to LOVE Sundays.

I loved feeling refreshed and renewed and connected to Jesus. I loved learning and being social with my ward family. ⁣

But having a husband with a super busy calling, having two very young kids, and being pregnant with my third added up to lots of rough Sundays. ⁣

Each Sabbath ended up being exhausting, pretty lonely, and not quite as spiritually rejuvenating as I would like. ⁣

It was hard to see the blessings of the Sabbath. ⁣

One exhausted Sunday, I tried asking for help in prayer specifically about seeing blessings. ⁣

I needed a lot of help seeing where the hand of God was on Sundays. ⁣

And this is exactly what happened:

“I witness that Jesus Christ loves us and can give us eyes to see—even when it’s hard, even when we’re tired, even when we’re lonely, and even when the outcomes are not as we hoped.” -Michelle D. Craig⁣

I asked for the eyes that could see the hand of the Lord, and I was given them. ⁣

I mean, I was still tired. Still by myself a lot. Still exhausted. ⁣

But I was also blown away by the little blessings that were absolutely everywhere. Making life just a bit easier. Helping me to still feel love. Giving me opportunities to connect and serve. ⁣

“Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them”. (Exodus 8:19) ⁣

Pharaoh’s priests decided to see the hand of God in the miracles that Moses and Aaron performed. ⁣

And Pharaoh decided to harden his heart and not see any evidence of the Lord. ⁣

It’s not always easy. I can attest to that. ⁣

But the Savior wants to give us eyes to see the hand of God in our lives, no matter what our circumstances are. ⁣

Because His power and influence and miracles are truly everywhere.

We just have to be willing and humble enough to look.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Difficult Sundays  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Sundays have been kind of rough for me recently.

I love Sundays. I love feeling refreshed and renewed. I love learning and being social with my ward family.

But having a husband with a super busy calling, having two young kids, and then having the energy drained from me while being pregnant has added up to lots of rough Sundays.

They end up being exhausting, pretty lonely, and not quite as spiritually rejuvenating as I would like.

It’s hard to see the blessings of the Sabbath.

So I recently tried asking for help in prayer specifically about seeing blessings.

I’m supposed to be seeing the hand of God in my life, and I needed a lot of help seeing where it was on Sundays.

And this is exactly what happened.

“I witness that Jesus Christ loves us and can give us eyes to see—even when it’s hard, even when we’re tired, even when we’re lonely, and even when the outcomes are not as we hoped.” -Michelle D. Craig

I asked for the eyes that could see the hand of the Lord, and I was given them.

I’ll be honest, I’m still tired. Still by myself a lot. Still exhausted.

But I am also blown away by the little blessings that are absolutely everywhere.

Making life just a bit easier. Helping me to still feel love. Giving me opportunities to connect and serve.

“Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them”. (Exodus 8:19)

Pharaoh’s priests decided to see the hand of God in the miracles that Moses and Aaron performed.

And Pharaoh decided to harden his heart and not see any evidence of the Lord.

It’s not always easy. I can attest to that.

But the Savior wants to give us eyes to see the hand of God in our lives, no matter what our circumstances are.

Because His power and influence and miracles are truly everywhere.

We just have to be willing and humble enough to look.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Seeing the hand of God first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

After a strong performance, my mom and my sisters would say, “Wow, they were so good!”

And my dad and I would start analyzing everything.

“Well, on that big note, she was actually a bit under the pitch.”

“You could tell he was totally out of breath there.”

For sure, it was obnoxious to watch American Idol with us. Sorry fam.

But… we just had an ear for that kind of stuff. Things that other people didn’t even notice.

And just to prove that I’m not THAT prideful, I’m the exact opposite with cooking.

If I’m eating food with someone and they start commenting on the exact texture that didn’t turn out properly, or the salt that’s missing, I’m usually oblivious. If it tastes good enough to me, I’m fine with it.

In Doctrine and Covenants 45:28-29, the Lord teaches the Saints that out of the darkness, there will be light that will shine through.

BUT! There will also be some who receive it not. “For they perceive not the light”.

So here’s the question I’ve been thinking about recently:

Am I perceiving the light around me?

I KNOW that there is light and goodness all around me, in my scriptures, in the temple, in my interactions with others, in my family…

But am I tuned in to all the nuances enough to even notice the light?

Do I recognize a really good singer because they seem “good enough”, or is it because I actually notice all the little techniques they have mastered in order to actually be amazing?

Do I eat a meal thinking it “tastes great”, or do I actually recognize the balance of flavors, texture of the meat, and savor the seasonings?

Am I walking through my day, thinking that it was a “good day”, or am I constantly seeing the hand of God reaching out, filling my mind with clarity, my heart with peace, and strengthening me?

I am surrounded by light.

So am I aware enough to perceive it?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Perception is everything first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.