I LOVE reading.

When people ask me what book I’ve read recently and I say that I haven’t really read anything, I usually say:

“I don’t have any time to read.”

But what I really mean is, “I wouldn’t feel productive if I just sat down and read when I could be doing other things. That would be lazy of me.”⁣

About a month ago, I had some time without kids, and I was headed downstairs to work or clean or organize something.

But when I passed my bedroom, I saw the stack of books sitting on my bedside table that I hadn’t touched.

And I saw my nice cozy bed. ⁣

And I just decided that I would go lie down in bed and read. ⁣

And I did.

And when the kids were back awake and home from school, I felt refreshed and ready to play all afternoon. ⁣

I feel like I keep having to relearn this lesson:

Avoiding being slothful does NOT mean being “productive” all the time. ⁣

We can relax.

We can do things we enjoy just because we enjoy them.

We can leave the dishes in the sink a little longer and not feel any guilt.

We can follow our passions. ⁣

We can avoid being slothful, and give ourselves time to find joy in life. ⁣

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12)

Paul gives the counsel to use our FAITH and PATIENCE. ⁣

Patience and slothfulness might outwardly look pretty similar.

They both look like a lot of waiting. ⁣

But, as with most things, it’s the inside intent that counts. ⁣

Are we wasting our precious time away?

OR are we allowing ourselves to slow down and enjoy life?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Am I being slothful or patient? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Waiting.

Long past my scheduled appointment time.

Shouldn’t they call me back soon?

This is so frustrating when I have people watching my kids and it takes longer than expected.

As my patience drained, my good attitude and Christlike heart drained with it.

So there I was, sitting in a crowded waiting room, annoyed and frustrated.

And still waiting.

Isn’t that the real problem with having to wait?

It’s because some thing is supposed to be happening that isn’t happening yet.

Waiting for a job interviewer to call me back. Waiting to get over a sickness. Waiting for my husband to get home from work. Waiting at school pickup. Waiting for blessings in a bad situation.

Waiting can be so so so draining.

But then I think on other times in my life when waiting has been beautiful.

Waiting for a new baby to arrive. Waiting for a trip with my family. Waiting for a treat to finish cooking. Waiting for guidance from the Lord. Waiting for an answer to prayers. Waiting for a session in the temple to begin.

Beautiful waiting and draining waiting have one big difference:

Trusting in God’s timing.

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”. (Isaiah 40:31)

When I wait while turned toward the Lord, no matter how serious or trivial my waiting may be, I draw spiritual strength.

I have my energy constantly renewed.

I feel invigorated in my waiting because I completely trust that things will happen when God intends them to happen.

There’s a lot of waiting in this mortal life.

But waiting for and with the Lord makes all the difference.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

I stayed up late, I had extra babysitters come during the day, and I hit my deadline.

I love writing and creating, so I truly enjoy these last minute work times, which probably reinforces my habit of procrastinating, but oh well.

Everything was on schedule to be published at the perfect time.

The rest of the process was out of my control.

I pressed “submit” and waited.

And waited some more.

Days went by.

And suddenly, I was having to wait longer than I have ever waited before for my work to be approved.

And then it was twice as long as I’ve ever had to wait.

And then three times as long.

I had a great real-life practice of my mantra about not worrying about things outside my control. But boy was that a tough wait.

I was to the point where I almost expected it would never get approved and published for some reason.

And then!

I opened the email. It was approved! Published! Good to go!

My immediate first thought was pure gratitude.

I bowed my head and said a quick but super sincere prayer of overwhelming gratitude.

So so grateful and so so blessed. God is good.

And immediately after this gratitude, it hit me.

I’ve never been grateful for publishing services before.

I’ve never given a second thought to having my work “approved” and “published”.

But having to wait for such a long time allowed my heart to feel such gratitude and dependence on the Lord.

The Israelites had suffered for a long time.

And so when they saw Moses and Aaron’s signs and heard their testimony that they had been sent from God to free them,

“The people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus 4:31)

When I have to wait for a blessing for a long time, my gratitude increases exponentially.

Maybe that’s why the Lord likes to let us wait sometimes. He knows that our hearts need the training.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Waiting on a deadline first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.