I recently watched a video titled "Finals Week." That video changed my entire mentality of this finals week.

It says, "If I am supposed to love God with all of my mind, and He commands me to find rest in him, then shouldn't shalom be in my studies to?"

Woah, how powerful is that? Find rest in your studies. But how? Well, he then says...

"Your degree has nothing to do with you, in fact, it has everything to do with Him."

EVERYTHING. Your degree has EVERYTHING to do with Him. We are trained to be so selfish in our intentions. We are trained to go on a path to get us the most reward (aka money). We are not trained by society to seek a position that fuels our heart, serves the kingdom and uses our gifts and talents. We are not trained to do that because we are trained to be busy. We are trained to seek with selfish intentions.

My degrees (past and future) have NOTHING to do with me or with the money I will (or will not) make. My degree has EVERYTHING to do with furthering the Kingdom of God. My degree has EVERYTHING to do with fueling my heart and serving the least of these. My degree has EVERYTHING to do with using my God given talents and gifts to love my neighbor. My degree has NOTHING to do with me.

"So rest in God in your academics, seek the Holy Spirit in your studies. Realize that your degree is not for you. it is for those who are hurting. So relish in the opportunity to foster your gifts, breathe in deeply the air of freedom to learn and bathe in God's grace that you get to be here to learn how to love his children better. "

I'm sorry, did you say rest in my academics? HOW?! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MANY PRESENTATIONS I HAVE THIS WEEK?!

Yes, yes I do. But God also knows how to have a hand in all we do. God also knows how to slow you down. Find rest in those truths. Find rest in what will come of your degree. Find rest in God's grace and mercy. Find rest in that you will be able to serve the children of God through your studies. Find rest and seek God in this time.

"You are in training to love people better."

Training, we are in training. We are in hell week, its true. But if we change perspective and see that we are in training, aren't we doing ourselves, our neighbors, our future clients/patients/participants/business partners and the Kingdom of God a favor in looking at this as being in training? We are in training to love and serve better.

So friends I ask you to seek God and seek rest in this time of exams, presentations and projects. Find rest in God's goodness. After all, this degree is not for you.

***Thank you Stefan Vandenkooy for this truth.