Teaching middle school was tough.

I prayed that there would be some kind of help for me the following school year.

There ended up being major teacher shuffling that happened that summer.

All of a sudden, almost by default, I was being offered a team lead position.

I was going to be in charge of attending professional trainings.

And then I would need to share the information I learned by creating trainings for all the Language Arts teachers at the school.

Accepting that team lead position was EXACTLY what I needed, both professionally and personally!

It was absolutely the miracle that I needed.

A total answer to prayers.

But. . . it also seemed very logical.

I could tell you exactly why Mrs. A needed to change schools, why Mrs. B was making a career change, and why Mr. C got a position at the high school.

All of which led to the basically default decision that I would be offered the team lead role.

In fact, most of these people had their own professional miracles that opened the way for my miracle.

The Lord orchestrates everything.

Sometimes, He moves mountains for us.

But I think most of the time, the plan is so intricately interwoven that miracles just look like a bunch of logical and reasonable changes.

In fact, this was the cause of the demise of the Nephite nation.

They were saved over and over, but:

“. . . they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them.” (Mormon 3:3)

Do we brush off the “normal” things that happen in our lives, the things that just make sense?

Is getting home safely from an activity, being nourished by food, or meeting someone new seem like something that will always happen?

Or do we recognize God in all the little, logical, miraculous details of our lives?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Team Lead  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

My coworkers (who I loved absolutely dearly and who I know loved me too) were suddenly constantly joking around and saying things like:

“Oh I bet you are planning to quit soon! All the good teachers end up quitting as soon as they have a baby!”

I had many coworkers who were amazing mothers who worked full time as teachers, but still I could feel the judgment.

Everyone expected me, the new young mom, to now quit, because they had seen it plenty of times before.

And I did not want to prove them right.

But what they didn’t know is that I had already received super personal revelation that I needed to quit my job.

They didn’t realize how much I had wrestled with the Lord over the revelation, but couldn’t deny it.

And so here I was, about to resign from my job, with coworkers who were constantly joking about how I would probably quit soon.

Have I mentioned I don’t like being a stereotype?!

I honestly felt a little insecure and embarrassed about quitting.

I didn’t want to be labeled and judged.

As I prayed a lot about this though, my thoughts started to change.

The Lord quietly taught me that I can have confidence when I remember who I am and when I act with His power on His revelation.

I am a child of God.

He has a path for me.

And I can feel confidence and peace with that.

If other people want to judge me for following my personal revelation?

I can’t control that.

Jesus Himself experienced people doubting and trying to incorrectly label Him.

“Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22)

“If thou be the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3)

But Jesus wasn’t swayed by others mislabeling Him or doubting His worth.

And I don’t need to be either.

When I remember that I am a Child of God, I gain confidence to act on my personal revelation, with true authority, no matter what others may think.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Remembering who I am  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

If every righteous person aced every test, made every sports team, and got major job promotions, there would be no need for faith.

If heartbreaking tragedies avoided every good person’s life, there would be no need for faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t give any of us a “free pass” card from the trials in life.

Happiness will not always be ours.

But faith in Jesus Christ can bring joy at all times.

I think of “joy” as the more mature version of “happiness”.

It’s calmer. It’s deeper. It’s more peaceful.

I have felt true, peaceful joy when I didn’t get the part in the school musical that I wanted.

I have felt true, peaceful joy when I’ve felt left out of social situations.

I have felt true, peaceful joy when traumatic world events have happened around me.

I have felt true, peaceful joy with devastating personal tragedies.

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him”. (Job 13:15)

And it’s not because I’m naive.

Not because I’m pollyanna happy-go-lucky.

Not because I push my emotions down.

I have felt sadness and sorrow. I have cried by myself and mourned with others.

“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” —President Nelson

Staying focused on Jesus Christ is the way to live.

When I choose to focus on Jesus more than I focus on my own circumstances, everything feels a little bit more joyful.

Jesus will always be the constant that I can trust, and that knowledge alone will always bring me joy.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Though he slay me first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I practiced for a few weeks leading up to the race.

I’d push a stroller with a kid in it and run around the neighborhood.

At first, I could only run an embarrassingly small amount without stopping.

When I’d look at my phone to see how much I still had to run, I would almost quit.

It was too hard. I couldn’t do it.

But slowly, I built up my stamina.

On the day of the race, the cold morning air was sharp in my lungs.

I started the race.

There were many times that I wanted to quit.

My lungs were on fire and my calves started to cramp.

But I kept going because I knew the end point was near!

I crossed the finish line, and immediately rested and drank tons of water before climbing in our heated car.

I pushed through my discomfort during the race because I knew it wasn’t going to last forever.

Isn’t this is the kind of perspective that can give us hope here on earth, too?

Some races are short and intense, some are long and grating.

But we know there is going to be a finish line with a greater reward than we could even imagine at the end.

Job was a powerful example of this.

He knew exactly what the reward was, and he had faith that it really would happen.

Job bore this sweet but powerful testimony:

“I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:25-26)

Jesus Christ lives, and we will be resurrected!

That is the glorious finish line waiting for each of us.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The resurrection is the greatest finish line first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.