I’ve had this experience recently, and I’ve been praying constantly for how to help solve this person’s problems so that they aren’t in so much pain. ⁣

But the impression that keeps coming back to my mind is: “This is their trial to deal with. What you can do is support and love and lift.”⁣

And I’ve taken that to heart. ⁣

I can’t take away the trial or the pain or the heartache.⁣

But I can love and support and lift this person through little acts of service, communication, heart-to-heart conversations, and lots of prayer. ⁣

So often, the story of Moses raising his hands in prayer to help the Israelites win their first battle in the wilderness is interpreted one specific way.⁣

But these words touched my heart as I read Exodus 17:12: ⁣

“But Moses’ hands were heavy; ⁣

“and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; ⁣

“and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; ⁣

“and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”⁣

Two friends. ⁣

One of them a brother, in fact. ⁣

Staying by Moses’ side until the sun set. ⁣

They couldn’t take away the heavy task that had been given to Moses, of staying with his hands raised in prayer. ⁣

But they knew that they could be there to love, support, and lift.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Love, support, and lift  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I went to my closet to get dressed. . .

And the blouse that I wanted was curled up in a ball on the floor, stinky, wrinkled beyond repair, and unwearable.

Panic set in.

In my mind this was a disaster.

I was nervous enough for the job interview, and now my planned outfit wasn’t going to work out?!

Immediately, I folded my arms and said a quick prayer. ⁣

I asked for comfort to calm my heart, and for me to figure out what to do next.

I looked at my closet, found a new shirt I felt confident about, and I was in my car just a few minutes later. ⁣

As I was driving to the interview, I was praying that I would interview well, that I would get the job if it was His will. . .

And then I laughed a bit. ⁣

Had I really just prayed about what shirt I was wearing?⁣!

This is my favorite thing that I’ve learned about my loving Father in Heaven:

There’s nothing too big AND nothing too small for Him to care about. ⁣

Alma testified, “I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind.” (Alma 36:27)

Every single kind of trouble.

He’ll support us through the heartbreaking tragedies. The big stuff.

But He’ll also support us when we can’t find the shirt we wanted to wear.

He’ll support us when we don’t know how to respond to some contention in our calling.

He’ll support us when we are sad to miss out on something we were excited for.

He’ll support us when we forget something that causes a little inconvenience.

God really will support us through every single kind of trial and trouble that we can have.

We just need to remember to actually turn to Him whenever any sort of trouble sets in.

If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The wrinkled shirt first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Just imagine.

Imagine you had to send many children to the earth.

And these children wouldn’t remember anything.

But you would hope they would still choose to be good people and learn about truth. 

Doesn’t that seem like an overwhelming task?!

How could these children ever possibly learn truth and return to heaven?!

Well… think about everything our Heavenly Father has given us to succeed.

He gave us scriptures filled with doctrine and faith-filled stories.

He gave us prophets and apostles to spread inspired messages.

We are born into families.

He gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost to be guided, comforted, and taught. . .

I could go on forever.

He has given us SO. MUCH. HELP.

And yet, it’s not enough for some.

And God weeps in heaven, “What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?” (2 Nephi 15:4)

God has given us what He can without completely removing the element of faith.

And while some people completely overlook the help…

Are we unintentionally leaving some of His divine help on the table?

Is He looking at us having a terribly frustrating day, hoping that we will open the scriptures that evening so He can send us a message of comfort through His word?

Let’s dive in.

Let’s immerse ourselves in all the resources, help, and support He has provided.

He’s done more than His fair share of His part.

It’s our time to show we can do ours.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What more could He have done? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’m fine!

I can handle it!

Unfortunately, this habit also spills over to my prayers.

My brain thinks it is selfish to pray and ask for comfort.

It seems like such a frivolous thing to ask for.

I’m fine.

I can handle it.

And yet, I know that my Savior has said:

“I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you.” (2 Nephi 8:12)  

He wants to comfort me!

He’s there with the offer.

And I don’t need to be perfect or totally righteous to ask for this peace and love.

…But I do need to ask.

Do we trust that the Lord can actually comfort us?

And do we trust that asking for comfort isn’t selfish?

Even more than a good friend, I’ve learned that Jesus knows I often need support and love.

I just need to know that I’m not alone.

I want to feel divine rest.

And I need to know that I will get through my rough times.

Our Savior knows our experiences and feelings perfectly.

And He wants to give us comfort, if we just remember to ask.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I don’t need any help first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve had this experience recently, and I’ve been praying constantly for how to help solve this person’s problems so that they aren’t in so much pain.

But the impression that keeps coming back to my mind is: “This is their trial to deal with. What you can do is support and love and lift.”

And I’ve taken that to heart.

I can’t take away the trial or the pain or the heartache.

But I can love and support and lift this person through little acts of service, communication, heart-to-heart conversations, and lots of prayer.

So often, the story of Moses raising his hands in prayer to help the Israelites win their first battle in the wilderness is interpreted one specific way.

But these words touched my heart as I read Exodus 17:12:

“But Moses’ hands were heavy;

“and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon;

“and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side;

“and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Two friends.

One of them a brother, in fact.

Staying by Moses’ side until the sun set.

They couldn’t take away the heavy task that had been given to Moses, of staying with his hands raised in prayer.

But they knew that they could be there to love, support, and lift.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Lifting the heavy hands first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had my outfit all picked out in my head and was waiting to get changed.

And as it was time to get ready to go, I went to my closet to get dressed… and the blouse I wanted was curled up in a ball on the floor by the dirty clothes hamper.

It hadn’t been washed, it was wrinkled beyond repair, and I couldn’t wear it.

Panic set in.

This was a disaster. This was going to ruin my chance at this job. (In my mind!)

Immediately, I folded my arms and said a quick prayer.

I found a new shirt I felt confident about and was in my car just a few minutes later.

As I was driving to the interview, I was praying that I would interview well, that I would get the job if it was His will…

And then I laughed a bit.

Had I really just prayed about what shirt I was wearing?!

The silliness of it hit me. The shirt I was wearing at that point was totally fine – why did I freak out when the other shirt was dirty? Why did I feel like I needed to pray about it?

This is my favorite thing that I’ve learned about my loving Father in Heaven!

There’s nothing too big and nothing too small for Him to care about.

If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

In that moment, the loss of my “perfect” blouse was really important and devastating to me.

And it may have seemed silly, but I believe with that little prayer that I said in my closet, I was guided toward another shirt that I would feel confident in.

Every single kind of trial and trouble that we can have – from losing a loved one to not being able to wear a particular shirt – our Savior will support us though.

Not solve the problem or take away the pain necessarily.

But He supports us.

I bet He looked down at me with a little smile when I prayed about that shirt, but He still cared enough to help.

I, too, as Alma, have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Trials and troubles of every kind first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.