Do you know what I think of as one of the biggest opposites of “content”?⁣

Stressed. ⁣

Do you know anyone who could rewrite this scripture with the opposite?

“I am able to be stressed, in all circumstances!” ⁣

… Are you that person? 

“Stress” has become quite the badge of honor.

Everyone has a lot of things going on.

All the time.

It’s pretty much how life goes. ⁣

But it’s often assumed that just because you have a lot going on, you must feel stressed about it. ⁣

BUSY does not have to equal STRESSED.

Paul teaches that he has learned that he can feel CONTENT in all states and circumstances.

And if anyone has the street cred to talk about a wide range in life circumstances, it’s Paul.

Seriously. ⁣

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

What if we could truly feel CONTENT in all circumstances in our lives too?⁣

No matter how many things we have going on, I have learned personally that “feeling stressed” is a choice.

And honestly… I feel like I’ve earned some street cred to be able to say that, too.

Being busy with good things can actually be so so so fulfilling.

I’ve tried to just stop saying “I’m stressed”.

My life is filled with so many things.

But I truly feel CONTENT in my life. ⁣ ⁣

What a blessing it is that we don’t have to feel stressed or overwhelmed based off of our circumstances. ⁣

We can choose to build a life centered around the peace found in Christ. ⁣

So that we, like Paul, can feel content in every state.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Content or stressed  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It had been one of those really busy days.

And I wished that I could just take a day off the next day to watch Netflix and rejuvenate, because boy, did I need it.

But of course, I couldn’t do that.

Now, I’m pretty good at removing the fluff from my life. It’s definitely a strength of mine to be able to say “no” to things that I don’t need to be doing.

But my packed to-do list for the following day was still there.

I felt exhausted and prayed for strength to get through the following day.

And here’s an example of when the Lord used my scripture reading to answer my prayers and needs in an immediate way.

As I was reading my scriptures that night, I happened to read D&C 64:33.

Here, the Lord says:

“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing”.

That phrase, that I’ve heard a million times before, hit me like lightning.

Doing good things and being a good person is literally the whole point of this life.

NOT to get my work out of the way so that I can watch Netflix as much as possible.

Yes, I need to make sure I’m not running faster than I have strength and that I’m sleeping well.

But then… I WANT to let the good things that I’m doing energize me instead of drain me.

And it may sound overly-simplistic, but that’s what I chose in that moment.

I simply CHOSE to let the good things that I’m doing ENERGIZE me instead of drain me.

And… it worked.

I know, I know, it sounds too easy. But I think the mind is a powerful thing.

Deciding to not complain about all the good things that I’m doing opened the door for gratitude and energy to come in to my life in an even greater capacity.

And I even gained some clarity on a few things in my life that I thought were the best, but were not necessary.

Piece by piece, I’ve started finding that joy even more.

I’ve stopped glorifying my “busy-ness” and my fatigue.

I’ve got a lot of really great, really important things on my plate.

And I’m gonna keep on going and finding the joy.

Because God wants me here on earth to DO good and BE good, AND have joy.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Weariness and joy first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.