Introduction

For those of us at school and uni, it is that time of the semester again. Exams. And with that usually comes the formidable foe, stress. Sometimes a little bit of stress can be a good motivator, but a lot of it can be estructive and may cripple us in a critical moment... Below, I want to challenge the way we view stress. Perhaps I can cast it in a different light:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:26-27,34

Control

Learn to recognise and separate the things you can control now and, more importantly, the things you can't. For example, it is usually impossible for you to know the exact content of an exam in advance - this is out of your control. However, you can control how you approach your preparation; what you study, how much you allow yourself to get distracted... For situations beyond your control, trust that God will take care of them on your behalf. And where you can control the outcomes, trust that He will assist you as you prepare.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7

"What If..."

Stress often comes from a fear of the unknown. "What if...?" we ask ourselves. Fear does not come from God, it comes from the one who is trying to rip us off. But, in God, we have the power to overcome our fears; we have the authority in Him to tell them to "rack off!". And of course, we have a sound mind as well. (And don't forget that "perfect love [ie God] casts out all fear"1.)

“You discern my going out and my lying down, You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in - behind and before, You have laid Your hand upon me.”

Psalm 139:3-5

God Goes With Us

God goes with us into every situation. In fact, He goes before us into everything - preparing the way for us to follow. So, take God into the exam with you. Before the exam, find a quiet place somewhere away from the crowds, and ask God to be with you, to guide you, and to give you a peaceful and clear mind. During the exam, if you get into a tight situation, take a step back and ask God again for peace and clarity.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

Hebrews 10:35

Conclusion

Finally, be confident in yourself and your abilities. Be confident that the amount of effort you have put into study and preparation throughout the semester will be rewarded. Speak the truths about what you know you can do, rather than focussing on details that you might have left out. And after you exam is over, be confident that you did the best that you could.

Lord of the Assignment 1

Lord of the Assignment 2