Grades for this semester came out the other day. I got all A’s. I actually cried when I saw my grades. I’ve received all A’s before, but this semester was absolutely the most difficult one I have been through yet. I had my toughest battle with depression, went through a spiritual drought which seemed to last forever, experienced the saddest of friendship problems, counted too many deaths of fellow students and acquaintances, took the two hardest undergraduate math classes offered at Clemson, battled with self-image and self-hatred and self-harm, stressed about the future 24/7 (because junior year is apparently the year you have to decide your fate), and so so so much more. As soon as I saw my grades, I glorified myself. “Wow, Catherine. You did it. You came out on top. You made the grades. You. You. YOU.”
Later that night, I realized I hadn’t once thought about or thanked God for the outcome of my grades. If you took a glance at my “Jesus Journal,” almost everyday during my quiet time this semester, I prayed for God to take control of my school life. I prayed for wisdom and peace and understanding and calmness. He provided these things all through this semester, but I still praised myself for making the grades. For the second time that day, I cried.
My grades had made me feel valued and proud. But my self worth is NOT in my grades. I know if I had made a B, my first thought would have been, “Hey, it’s alright. Your value is in Christ, and Christ alone.” However, why didn’t I have that same thought when I saw my A’s? No matter what happens in my life, good or bad, I need to constantly remind myself of my true value that can only be found in Him.
So, friends, no matter what the outcome of your semester is, know that your grades don’t define who you are. Your value is in Christ. He has made you to be enough. Your grades (and every other worldly thing) are temporary and cannot give you nearly the same worth as Jesus did. Let’s praise Him through all things, good or bad, because He deserves all the glory.
