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.

Things that are unexplainable, grand, and inspiring. ⁣

But I have found that most of the time, my success comes from my hard work, my desire to learn, and my application of knowledge. ⁣

… so is that taking God out of the equation to acknowledge that?⁣

Let’s look at Captain Moroni’s battle against Zarahemnah’s Lamanite troops. ⁣

Moroni and Lehi had surrounded the Lamanites and were asking for their surrender.

Moroni verbally expressed that he knew the Nephite armies had prevailed because of their faith in God. ⁣

Zarahemnah’s response as he was surrounded by Nephite armies?⁣

“We do not believe that it is God that has delivered us into your hands; but we believe that it is your cunning that has preserved you from our swords. Behold, it is your breastplates and your shields that have preserved you.” (Alma 44:9)⁣

In other words, “Moroni, it certainly wasn’t a god who helped you. You just wore armor and were very smart about your battle plans – that’s why you won!”⁣

What Zarahemnah did not know is that Moroni had gone to the high priest Alma in order to find out where the Lamanite armies were going and how they should attack. ⁣

Moroni was cunning and brilliant with his battle plans – because he had faith in God who showed him what to do. ⁣

And that armor they wore? The Nephites traditionally always had better defensive wear than the Lamanites. So I’m sure Moroni used his God-given brilliance to continue those same preparations. ⁣

Zarahemnah was partially right in his argument. ⁣

Moroni won due to his cunning and armor. ⁣

But Zarahemnah missed the big, obvious connection that Moroni attributed his cunning and armor to the One who gave him breath. ⁣

Using my talent and intellect to find success in this life is exactly what God intends me to do with my gifts.

But He also wants to make sure I don’t lose sight, like Zarahemnah did, of where all of my power comes from.

Miracles that look like logical outcomes are still miracles from a loving Heavenly Father.

And acknowledging this constantly is what can help keep my heart soft and humble. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post That wasn’t a miracle!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.