As I am sure every Western Washington University student is aware of, finals week of fall quarter is upon us. This is where quarter-based academic terms are both a blessing and a curse: if you haven't enjoyed the courses you're taking, they're almost over... but at the same time, most of the more intense projects, papers, and assignments for these courses all sneak up on you through a curriculum-crammed home stretch.

And though I profess to following Jesus' example for how to live a life devoted to God, I often falter in letting the stress of finals week get to me: I find myself stressed and consumed by worry from the various papers and projects I need to complete, blurring my focus on the peace and grace that God Is.

But in this upcoming week, amidst final exams and research essays, I commit to having a spiritually mature, God-oriented approach to tackling these final academic hurdles of the quarter.

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul (a teacher of the Gospel) writes what has now become one of the pieces of biblical scripture that I hold onto the most. In one of the last pieces of his letter, Paul commands them in how they should live not just in relation to their community, but in relation to God, too.

He specifically urges his readers to "rejoice always [and] pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:16-17 NKJV). When I first read this letter, I thought "wow, that makes me feel very encouraged," but quickly forgot I had even read it.

This attitude toward scripture is part of why I was always falling into the same routine during finals week: I would hear a verse I thought was "cool" or "uplifting" but forget about it by the time I truly needed to hear what God was speaking to me through His Word.

I call this cycle I, and many Christians, find ourselves stuck in as "Jesus Hype." Sure the scripture you read might get you amped up in the moment, and could resonate with you to an extent, but if you don't take the time to meditate on the verses (through praying over them, journaling about them, and personally applying them) then you'll just forget about them, and that excitement and energy you got from reading the verses is rendered useless.

The Word of God cannot be something we just use to feel good when our day is already going great. His Scripture pertains to our daily lives and gives guidance and direction when we feel lost and stressed.

With these verses from 1 Thessalonians, I can choose to actively live them out from now until the end of finals week (hopefully I will learn to always behave how these verses encourage me to, but I have to take it all one step at a time).

Instead of stressing over all of the work I have, I can rejoice in the opportunity to serve the Lord in being diligent in getting my work in on time. I also have the ability to trade being consumed by all of my school projects and assignments with praying for peace and patience.

And I know the Lord will give those spiritual fruits to me, as Jesus Himself tells His disciples that "whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you have received them, and you will have them" (Mark 11:24 NKJV).

In preparation for finals week, let us choose to prepare differently than past quarters: instead of allowing all of the work and preparation to consume us, let's lean into God and be doers of His Word. Let us pray for peace and patience, and that through being diligent with our work, we can glorify His Name.