Finals.

How does one word, four letters, a noun, cause so much anxiety, stress, and strife?

Perspective.

That's what many students, myself included, lack during finals week.

Finals aren't eternal. Classes aren't eternal. Grades aren't eternal.

Yes, school is important. Yes, working hard for your goals are important. Colossians 3:23 even says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart."

But the question is, am I putting my hope in my grades? Am I putting my hope in my earthly success?

The problem with answering yes to those questions is that grades and earthly success are temporary; they are eventually going to fail you. They only temporarily satisfy. Jesus is what truly satisfies. How often do we tell people about Jesus? How often do we spend time grinding out our school work in the library? If you are anything like me, the answer is that I spend way more time studying than sharing the Good News. Friends, we have the cure to the world's greatest need, why do we keep it to ourselves?

Jesus is on our side.

The God of the universe is on our side!

God is for us and he cares about every little detail of our life. So much so, Luke 12:7 says, "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Therefore, He wants us to be successful on earth. He wants us to ace our finals. But above anything else, he wants Jesus get the glory. The glory He deserves.

You see, the last part of Colossians 3:23 (mentioned above) says, "...working for the Lord, not for human masters." Altogether, the verse reads, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, working for the Lord, not for human masters." Jesus deserves the glory in all that we do. He is the source of it all after all and we are nothing with him.

I don't know about you, but I want all of Jesus, every single part of my Savior. The thing is, when we hold back part of our heart from the Father, He'll do the same to us. We must be completely surrendered to God in order to taste His true sweetness, goodness, and abundant life.

What does it mean for you to be completely surrendered to God?

What parts of your hearts are you holding back?

God already knows all of you. He knows more than you know. Let's be vulnerable with our Heavenly Father. He meets us where we are at and doesn't just keep us there, but takes us on an everlasting journey with Him.

So, let's give Him all of us. Let's let Him into every area of our life. He cares deeply about ALL of it. He died to be near to us. No matter how small it is, Jesus wants to be a part of that area of your life.

So this final week, let's give our finals, our studies, and our time fully to our Savior.

Whether the grade is what you want it to be or not, there's grace. Our true victory in Jesus' finished work on the cross and Jesus has already won on our behalf!! There's no striving for that; we just have to say, "Yes!"

So this final week, let's rejoice that our true victory is already here and that Jesus is on His thrown through it all. Rejoice!