It seems like the winds never stop. ⁣

I try to block things out for a bit – but when I resurface with my emotions, the wind is still there. ⁣

I keep trying, but I can’t get rid of it. ⁣

It can be exhausting. ⁣

To want to fix a problem. To want to eliminate the wind and keep the calm sea for just a bit. To feel in control. ⁣

But the wind still blows. ⁣

And so these two verses jumped out to me:⁣

“The Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters…” (Ether 6:5)⁣

“The wind did never cease to blow…” (Ether 6:8)⁣

The Jaredites experienced constant and furious winds. ⁣

For weeks and months on end, the wind blew and there wasn’t a thing they could do about it. ⁣

But guess which part of the scriptures actually jumped out to me?⁣

The second half. ⁣

Read those same verses again, now with the endings added:⁣

“The Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land.” (Ether 6:5)⁣

“The wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land.” (Ether 6:8)⁣

The winds weren’t blowing just for fun. The Lord didn’t forget about calming the sees of their journey. ⁣

The winds were exactly what was driving them towards the Promised Land. ⁣

Maybe some Jaredites prayed for the wind to stop or at least slow down. ⁣

But that actually would have gone against their prayers for safety on their journey. ⁣

The winds WERE the answer. They were what was driving them towards the result they wanted. The result He knew they needed. ⁣

And so I received the reminder I so desperately needed. ⁣

I don’t think my winds are going anywhere right now. ⁣

Because they are actually blowing me towards my destination. ⁣

Thanks, furious, never-ending wind. ⁣

I have faith that my destination will be even greater than what I have in mind.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The wind doesn’t stop  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But not every monsoon is exactly the same.

If you’ve never experienced a monsoon in the desert, it’s always a surprise what kind of storm you will get!

Sometimes the monsoon starts with a big dust storm, lowering visibility and covering everything with a thin layer of dirt.

Other times, the wind is intense, uprooting trees and flipping trampolines. (Ask me how we know that!)

And other times, the rain seems never-ending, flooding parks and creating rivers down streets.

Now let’s talk about spiritual monsoons.

In our spiritual lives, we know storms are unavoidable.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that the rain will come, the floods will rise, and the wind will blow, no matter what.

But just like monsoons each come with their own unique signature, our trials each have their own flair as well.

Sometimes, we’ll have more rain where trials keep pouring in.

Other times, the wind will blow, making it hard to stay focused on the gospel.

And other times, the flood waters rise, almost suffocating us with competing priorities.

Sometimes we have bigger and scarier intense storms that pass in a flash.

Other times we have storms that brew for a long time.

But we all have them! ⁣

The difference, of course, is Christ. ⁣

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Matthew 7:25)

We can go through hard things with Him or without Him.

We don’t need to lose faith just because the storm comes; He said it would.

But Jesus will love us and help us grow through it.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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