It’s been so hard for him to hear recently, his doctor confirmed he had hearing loss due to fluid in the ears, and so we knew this was the best step.

All my recent interactions with him have included me talking very loudly and slowly, and him yelling, “What?” about a million times a day.

When we came home after his surgery, one of the first things he said to me was:

“Mom, everything is so loud!”

I told him it was because his ears were now working the way they were supposed to.

He insisted, “No, like I’m hearing things I’ve never ever heard before. It’s all so loud and there is so much sound.”

He has had no idea what he had been missing out on.

It’s a whole new world for him with ears that have now been opened to hear.

I thought about how often I’ve lived my life with my spiritual eyes closed.

Completely unaware of the divine hand, the blessings, the literal miracles that have surrounded me because I just am not willing or quite able to perceive yet.

The prophet Balaam thought his donkey was being stubborn and disobedient.

Until…

“Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way”. (Numbers 22:31)

The trouble with our spiritual eyes and ears being closed is that we often don’t even realize it.

We think, “This is just how life is! Normal. I’m on my own. Solving my own problems. Dealing with normal things.”

Until something happens to wake us up and we choose to look and see.

And then a whole new world opens up to us.

Walking with Jesus. Guided by His Spirit. A life filled with constant miracles of all sizes. Communication and divine love everywhere.

Once we see it, we don’t want to go back!

How has the Lord helped you open your spiritual eyes to see His hand all around you?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Ears and eyes and donkeys first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Because sometimes, His path for my life and His blessings just seem completely out of left field. ⁣

Right out of BYU, I thought I had this one teaching job in the bag. ⁣

I loved the job, I wanted it, and I knew the staff and principal liked me. ⁣

And then I found out that I didn’t get the job due to some unforeseen complications. ⁣

I was devastated. ⁣

And I was humbled. ⁣

Instead of relying on my networking to get me a job, I had to turn to cold interviews. ⁣

My humility was through the roof. I was relying on God like I hadn’t in a long time. I was praying constantly. I was turning my will over to His. ⁣

And then, suddenly, a random recommendation, an interview, and a job offer that changed my life for the better. ⁣

Out of left field. ⁣

But the miracle came because I had humbled myself. ⁣

I think about young Joseph, who had been so excited after the First Vision. He was ready to learn about this new church!⁣

But after three years, his heart was growing weary. He felt weak and unclean from sins. ⁣

So he went to his knees in humility, wanting to repent and turn his heart back to God.⁣

“While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room”. (JS-H 1:30)

I can almost guarantee he wasn’t expecting an ancient prophet from a forgotten civilization showing up in his bedroom and telling him about gold plates buried in a hill three miles away!⁣

But that was exactly the unexpected miracle that Joseph, and all mankind, needed. ⁣

Miracles happen. Unexpected miracles happen. Completely unexpected and unlikely miracles happen. ⁣

But the first requirement that I’ve seen over and over?⁣

Humility.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Out of left field first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

In case you haven’t seen the movie…

The villain of the movie wants to give technology to everyone that will allow them to act like superheroes.

His motivation for doing this?

He wants to make the real superheroes seem less special.

He famously says, “Because when everyone is super. . . no one will be!”

The more common something is, the less special it seems.

“The people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven.” (3 Nephi 2:1) 

I’m sure the first miraculous sign of Christ’s birth was unforgettable.

But the 5th?

The 10th? 100th?

Eh, they’d seen that before.

WE wouldn’t have become “less astonished” at a sign from heaven if we had lived then, right?!

But think about the abundance of blessings Heavenly Father has given us RIGHT NOW.

He wants us to access the power of prayer each day!

He allows us to gain inspiration from the scriptures!

He pleads with us to listen to words of living prophets, make powerful covenants in the temple, find ways to love the people around us…

But do we allow the abundance of spiritual touch points to make them seem less special?⁣

My kids are great at still being astonished everytime they watch “The Incredibles”.

They laugh at the funny parts and gasp at the plot twists no matter how many times they’ve seen it.

I’m working on staying in awe of every aspect of the gospel so that every single time I receive new guidance or inspiration, I am astonished—

Whether it’s my 1st time or my 100th.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post “The Incredibles”  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

A rare summer storm had moved through the area, producing more than 12,000 lightning strikes and sparking fires across the state.

Over the course of a week, one fire grew and moved until it was about 6 miles from my hometown, where my parents and countless friends and former ward members live. ⁣

While the town was still in “warning” mode, the worst news came – ANOTHER rare storm was coming that weekend. ⁣

It was going to bring strong winds that would blow right towards the town, and this storm had a 100% chance to produce countless lightning.

The situation was dire. ⁣

The warnings shifted to mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of people as the coming storm was expected to bring that fire right to town limits, and new lightning strikes would add additional chaos. ⁣

And so the stake presidency called for a day of fasting and prayer. ⁣

Word spread, and members of the town, both church members and those of other faiths, joined in special prayers that Sabbath. ⁣

They braced for the worst, but faced the future with faith. ⁣

And on Monday, the town released a statement: “The storm that was forecasted did not develop as anticipated, which is positive”.

The winds that had been forecasted and threatened the entire town, never came.

The giant forecast storm resulted in less than 400 total strikes, and no consequential fires. ⁣

By Monday evening, in a totally unexpected move, the orders were completely lifted and everyone could return back home. ⁣

It was nothing short of a miracle. ⁣

The town Facebook page lit up with testimony after testimony of people sharing their gratitude to God and their feelings of unity during the fast. ⁣

And yet, sprinkled throughout those posts were comments such as, “You really think that your prayers caused all this?”⁣

Miracles are real. They happened just as Samuel prophesied, and they happen today. ⁣

And just as in times of old, WE decide if we are going to believe.⁣

Because miracles are explained away by nonbelievers, and completely life-changing for those who do believe.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The threatening wildfire  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As a mom, I think this could be my autobiography title. ⁣

I have studied the scriptures, revelation pouring out upon me, prayers being answered⁣…

and then my baby needs to be fed.

I have shared emotional stories with friends and bonded on a deep level⁣…

until one of our kids begs us to take them to the potty right now. ⁣

Church lessons where I’m feeling so connected to the material being taught…

and then my toddler starts screaming and I have to step out into the hallway. ⁣

I imagine Ammon going to feed King Lamoni’s horses with the same feeling. ⁣

The horses need to be fed. Someone has to do it. ⁣

“And they said unto him: Behold, he is feeding thy horses.

“Now the king had commanded his servants, previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare his horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi;

“for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land.” (Alma 18:9)

It doesn’t matter what miracle just occurred, what powerful General Conference talk you just listened to, what message you just shared…⁣

someone always needs to eat. ⁣

Whether it’s the King’s horses or my little messy kids’ faces. ⁣

But that’s the way I want it now. ⁣

Because in the mundane, I also find the miraculous. ⁣

The making oatmeal, the rocking to sleep, the millionth load of laundry⁣…

is all really sanctified service.⁣

When I’m in the right mindset about it, I’m showing my love.

I’m showing pure love to these small humans who can’t do much on their own. ⁣

And so I go back and forth, from miraculous to mundane. ⁣

But I can do it all with LOVE.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Everyone’s gotta eat first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Or prayed that you could sleep well, and then you do?⁣

Or prayed that you’d be able to get everything done before your deadline, and then you do?⁣

There are a lot of prayers that God answers without fanfare or drama. ⁣

These answers are difficult to recognize because they look like natural things happening.

They make us think, “Eh, that would have happened whether or not I prayed about it.”

When… maybe it wouldn’t have.

After years of praying and pleading for help from the people in Zarahemla, King Limhi and his people had a group of strangers arrive in their land.

A case of mistaken identity led to King Limhi preparing to put this group of strangers to death.

Right before putting them to death, though, King Limhi makes the shocking discovery that these strange wanderers were the answer to their prayers!

“Now, I know of a surety that my brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla are yet alive. And now, I will rejoice.” (Mosiah 7:14)

He almost missed the answer to their prayers.

But he caught it just in time, and the reunion was joyful.

Are we missing any answered prayers in our lives?

Are we looking for dramatic fanfare?

For things that seem impossible?

Ordinary but still miraculous answers are all around us.

We have strength to get through the day. We drive safely. Our kid is comforted. We find an answer to a question. Our kids are kind to each other.

It’s so easy to miss them.

But so often, it’s how God answers prayers.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Ordinary answers  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The story of the man with palsy is interesting, because Jesus first forgives him of his sins.

No physical healing had happened.

Just spiritual healing.

“Just.”

And then Jesus makes an interesting comment to the scribes who had been watching.

“Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?” (Mark 2:9)

I imagine Jesus thinking:

“I know some of them will only believe I forgave his sins if I also heal his physical infirmity.”⁣

This week, like in much of the New Testament, we will read about many miracles.

And sometimes we put the most focus on the physical aspects (raising the dead, healing lepers, casting out devils and calming the storm). ⁣

But it’s a little more challenging to look for the subtle hints we receive about the even more miraculous spiritual healings that accompany each of these physical miracles.

There might be more personal applications and connections to find that way.

Spiritual healing looks like a peaceful and understanding heart.

A heart that has been invited change.

A heart that will no longer focus on things of the world.

A heart that puts God and Jesus above all else.

A heart that serves and sacrifices rather than looking for comfort and ease.

The physical healing is amazing. Beautiful. Full of grace. Absolutely miraculous.

But the spiritual healing is unfathomable.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Spiritual miracles first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

News outlets, storytellers, and even advertisers know that our minds gravitate toward and remember the extremes.

We want to be shocked that someone is so wrong or different than we are, or we want to be amazed that someone did something so awesome or selfless.

The same is true in our own lives, right?

If I asked you what your top 3 spiritual moments are, I bet you’d have a list.

If I asked you the 3 moments when you’ve felt the lowest or most depressed, I bet you’d have a list, too.

I’ve been trying to focus more recently on finding the beauty and godly power in the seemingly mundane middle parts of life.

I’m not experiencing my lowest lows right now, and I’m not experiencing my highest highs.

But there is spiritual power in the middle.

Like when my baby doesn’t wake up when her brother screams right next to her.

Or when I had a really good conversation with a friend.

Or when I read a scripture that just gave my heart a little bit of peace after a long day.

In our church, we love to use a phrase for these little daily miracles: “tender mercies”, which was first coined in these psalms.

In Psalm 40:11, David writes: “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord”.

They aren’t the extremes.

But that doesn’t mean I want to notice them any less.

They are the little signs and support that God gives more often than my brain usually realizes.

Even though they might not be as memorable ten years from now, or honestly even next week, the tender mercies that I am given are what can really sustain me and show me that He is involved in the very details of my life.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The mundane middle first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“The Lord is with thee”. (Judges 6:12)

Aren’t we told this a lot too?

God is aware of us.

His Spirit is with us.

The Savior walks with us.

But Gideon pushes back on this idea:

“Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?

“and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of…?” (Judges 6:13)

Doesn’t Gideon’s logic sound familiar, too??

If the Lord is really with me, then why are all of these terrible things happening?

Where are the miracles you promised?

The angel doesn’t completely answer Gideon’s question in the moment, other than pointing him toward future blessings.

But how would you respond to Gideon’s question?

I usually try to focus on one point in each post that I write, but I’ve had a lot of thoughts swirling around on this topic lately, so I’m going to share a few ideas and you can take the idea that resonates the most right now.

• The reward for being righteous always comes. Always. Usually not when we want it, and sometimes not even in this life. But we have to trust in God’s promise that it will come.

• The real blessing in the moment is peace and joy on the inside, despite turbulent circumstances.

• Life can’t just be perfect for those who believe in God and miserable for those who don’t. That would take away the element of faith, and would hinder agency.

• Although I 100000% relate to this feeling, I can also see how spiritually immature it is to just want blessings all the time. A spiritually mature individual loves God and Jesus with their whole heart, mind, and soul, and the circumstances literally don’t matter at all.

What do you think? How would you respond to Gideon?

Because Gideon isn’t the only one asking this question.

It’s everywhere. It’s on social media. It’s in our church classes. It’s being asked over and over in our minds.

And I think there is a whole new level of spiritual understanding available when we start to realize that the angel’s declaration of the Lord being with us IS the miracle we’ve been looking for all along.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Where are my miracles? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

You can’t prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, in a way that all bystanders would agree with, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

To me, yes, there is tons of evidence to prove it.

Enough for me to feel completely confident turning my heart over to Him and dedicating my life to this work.

But we can’t actually prove it to other people.

It will always take just a little bit of faith.

A little bit of trust. A little bit of listening to your feelings and your heart more than your head.

The Lord taught the saints in Ohio in D&C 63:9 that:

“Faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.”

Proving the gospel is true and that Christ really exists, is never going to be enough to really convert someone.

Including ourselves.

Piling up all the evidence can only get my mind so far.

I have to rely on the faith that comes in my heart to keep me truly converted.

Faith can not come by signs, or proofs, or total knowledge.

In fact, I usually am not so great at recognizing signs or miracles until AFTER they have happened.

Hindsight is 20/20, right?

Our Heavenly Father WANTS us to have faith.

He wants us to believe first.

The world thinks that it’s a little silly.

But that’s okay, for I’m learning to overcome what the world thinks, anyways.

Belief and faith first, and then come the miracles.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Faith and miracles first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.