The last few weeks of the semester/quarter are a stressful time. It's only Monday of my second dead week of college and I'm... dead. One thing that I've found helps lower my stress level is reading and meditating on scripture. These are some of my favorite Bible passages that have really helped me in the past week. I'll be carrying them around with me in a notebook (and in my heart) for this next week and all through finals week. I hope they can be helpful to other people as well!
Exams are scary. Will I get a good enough grade to get an A in the class? Will I get a good enough grade to pass the class? Will I get a good enough grade to not be killed by my parents? I don't want to have to re-take these classes! I'm scared!
God says time and time again that we don't need to be afraid:
…do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
He said, “Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Daniel 10:19
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
[Jesus said] "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
Exams are a lonely time. We all shut ourselves up in our dorm rooms or the library and we work ourselves into the ground. We might not speak to another human being for hours on end. Sometimes it feels like we have no hope of succeeding at everything we need to.
When you need help, God will be there for you.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:24
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
Psalm 18:6
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
I know firsthand that exam time can make you feel like everything's out of control. My first semester, I felt so out of control that I got a drastic haircut that week because I felt like my body was the only thing I could control. If you feel like your life is out of your control, know that God's got you.
God's got everything under control.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us all things? ...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31b-32, 37-39
I find great comfort in these passages. I know that I don't need to be afraid, that God will always help me, and that at the end of the day, God is in control. I hope your exams go well! I'll leave you with one of the Psalms that brings me the most comfort:
I lift my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Psalm 121
