Bible verses for college finals

For many, this week is the week we all dread, finals week. For others, it’s the end of our college career and graduation is just days away. There will be breakdowns, all-nighters, memories reminisced and so much RedBull drank, it’s critical. Throughout this week, though, don’t let the stress of this world overwhelm you. Instead, go spend some time with your Heavenly Father. It’s times like these, when we’re exhausted from life, that we need His love, hope and strength the most.

1. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34: 17-19)

Let’s be real, finals week and graduation both bring a lot of tears. So when the tears start coming and your heart feels completely shattered from all the stress and sadness within the next week, remember our Father is the perfect listener and is ready to hear those cries and dry those tears.

2. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7)

Whether it’s worrying about an extremely difficult test or filling out job applications because you are uncertain about what you will be doing with your life after graduation, go to God with the anxiousness and know that He is in control. Regardless of whether you do or not, He HAS a plan. The overwhelming comfort you will feel from His peace is a feeling like no other.

3. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

God doesn’t recommend that we be strong and courageous, he COMMANDS it. Be confident in your work, not worrying about those tests and final projects that you have put hours of time into. When we are obedient, being the strong person God has called us to be, we are not only showing our faith in Him, but also showing our self-love and respect to ourselves.

4. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

As fallen creation, we are constantly worrying about so many things, some that are completely out of our control. We are precious children of a perfect Father who will ALWAYS provide and care for His children. Don’t worry, simply trust Him.

5. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and mountains quake and with their surging.” (Psalm 46: 1-3)

Preparing for that chem II final that no matter how long you study, you still feel like you don’t know everything you should, or filling out 10 job applications with no certainty of an interview from one of them may feel like the mountains are collapsing down on you, but have faith in God’s greater plan. He knows our fears and He will be faithful to see us through in His perfect timing. No matter how rough life may get, our God is always with us.

6. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

Nap thirty? I think so. When you physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and spiritually feel as if you are completely empty, drained of all you have, it’s time for rest. Seek out God and He will give you a rejuvenation unlike anything else this world can offer you.

7. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5: 6,7)

God loves us so incredibly much. He doesn’t want to see us fall, but sometimes we need to allow Him to pick us up and carry us the remainder of the way.

8. “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 be afraid.” (John 14:27)

There is just something so serene about the peace of mind and peace of heart that God gives that simply cannot be described enough to be put into words. Find your peace in God.

9. “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40: 30,31 )

10. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalms 73:26)

We’re only human, we are going to fail. When you need that pick me up, let our Father be the strength you need.

11. “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

Life is tough and worries can really bring a person to exhaustion. This week, when someone gets snappy or seems just a little too overwhelmed, send a compliment their way, encourage them. You never know what kind of day someone may be having and how a simple smile and “I believe in you” or “you look nice today” can do for their heart.

12. “‘If you can?’ said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

Wow, words of Jesus, Himself. Not some things, but EVERYTHING. Don’t doubt the power of our God.

13. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3, 4)

Sitting through countless hours of class, pulling multiple all-nighters and balancing the rest of your social/personal/work life all in between may cause you to feel like you’re suffering. Sometimes it’s that very suffering that will build the perseverance you need to push on, giving you the hope and character to fuel your flame.

14. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9)

There’s no doubt about it, life is hard. When you’re feeling beaten and worn out, know that despite all of the negativity and people telling you, “you can’t” or making you feel smaller than an ant, you are NOT destroyed. You are a beautiful creation of God who has purpose.

15. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galations 6:9)

I promise you, guys, I know you’re exhausted. You want to throw the towel in and say no more, you’re done. But, you’re so close to the end, it WILL be worth it!

Keep on, keepin’ on.

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The end of the school year is the most stressful time of the year. Papers are due, last minute tests are taken, presentations are done; by the time finals are thrown into the mix it’s almost impossible to try to stay afloat in all of the madness. It’s easy to get burnt-out, short tempered, and lose faith in the end goal. It’s easy to give up. It’s easy to feel weak. It’s easy to breakdown and complain. It’s easy to lose that vision of what you see yourself becoming, and it’s easy to forget that we’re not going through it all alone. Sometimes we need a little reminder to help us get through that rough patch. A reminder that even if it seems like nothing is going as planned and there is no end in sight, that there’s a bigger picture to it all; that God has our back even when we can’t see it or feel it. So next time you’re feeling down, alone, or want to give up, take a look at these verses and remember who always has your back and your best interest at heart. Because once you realize that, it’s a whole lot easier to buckle down and be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

1. 2 Corinthians 12:10

2. Psalm 56:3

3. 2 Corinthians 5:7

4. 1 Peter 5:7

5. Proverbs 16:3

6. Hebrews 13:5

7. 2 Timothy 4:17

8. Luke 1:45

9. Exodus 14:14

10. Luke 1:37

11. Ephesians 2:19-22

12. Isaiah 54:10

13. Micah 5:5

14. Job 23:10

15. Psalm 61:2

16. Philippians 1:6

17. Genesis 28:15

18. Psalm 139:14

19. Isaiah 40:31

20. Philippians 4:19

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As this year begins to come to a close, there’s less and less free time and more and more stress. As the work load increases, sometimes it’s nice to take a few minutes to rest and relax in the ultimate source of comfort: God. Here’s a list of the best bible verses for stressed out college students.

1. Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

2. Psalms 25: 1-5

“O you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

3. Ephesians 2:10

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

4. Mark 12:29-30

“Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength””

5. Romans 8:28

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

6. Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me”

7. Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction”

8. Psalms 23:6

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

9. Isaiah 40: 30-31

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint”

10. 2 Corinthians 12:9

“But he said to me, ‘my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

11. Philippians 2:3-4

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

12. Colossians 3:23

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

13. Titus 2:7-8

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

14. 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

15. Proverbs 3:6-7

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight”

16. Psalm 142:3

“When spirits grow faint within me, it is you who knows my way.”

17. Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”

18. Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

19. John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”

20. Matthew 5:10

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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As we near the end of the year, and finals approach quickly, I find myself on a roller coaster of emotions. Whether your own life is riddled with family complications, friend drama, overbearing professors or disappointment at every turn, I hope this article acts as a road map to understanding and healing. I pray that every single one of you can find your heart at peace, if even just for a moment. Sometimes the smallest moments of peacefulness can reignite the flame within your heart.

When you’re feeling lonely

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

He will not leave you nor forsake you. This is something I often find myself forgetting. It’s so easy to forget, but the Bible always has a deeper meaning. Heck, Jesus didn’t tell parables to educate us on the tendencies of sheep. He told us parables because they hold a meaning that is deeper than just the words on a page. God is constantly around you. Whether that be through prayer, your best friend, your worst enemy, your roommate, your RA or even the professor who drives you crazy. It seems so cliche and overstated, but it’s worth saying. You can find God everywhere you look. Sometimes we see God without even realizing it. He is with you in everyone and everything you encounter. Where do you see Him?

When you’re disappointed

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

OK, so you got back that test, and you didn’t get the best grade. Maybe you know you could have studied harder. Immediately you put up walls. The class is too hard, everyone failed, the professor is a jerk. You build these walls to protect you because really you’re disappointed in yourself. Or maybe you did your best, so you build different kinds of walls. Walls that prevent you from succeeding. I’m not smart enough, I’m not good enough, I will never be enough. We build these walls and expect things of this world to tear them down. But no amount of Instagram likes, empty compliments or Greek letters can break down the walls we build. By prayer and supplication. We search for peace in the people around us or the things of this world, but we can only get so close. We feel dejected and ask for validation from the people around us. But the peace of God surpasses all! Only God can break down these walls we build around our heart. He wants to break down these walls, but you have to allow Him in — through prayer.

When you feel like turning to drinking or drugs

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

So you’ve decided to go out this weekend. The week has been way too rough. It’s like all of your professors got together and planned to hit you with five tests in the same week. Oh, and don’t forget the paper you have due on Monday that you won’t start until Sunday night. You feel like there’s no way you can make it through another week without getting drunk. See, God says that we shouldn’t put our lives on the line like this because Jesus did that for us. He died so we could live, not be sacrificed at the hand of an empty bottle, or a drunk driving accident. We are so insanely loved by God that He gave his pride and joy to die. It almost seems too easy to throw that all away on one night out. Instead put your faith in the strength the Holy Spirit can give you.

When you need to forgive

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:11-12

I, personally, am very good at playing the game called, “let’s see how long I can hold a grudge.” It’s hard — it really is — to let someone back in again after they’ve hurt you. But think of all the times you’ve hurt God. You turned away from Him, denied Him, cut Him out of your life. God’s mercy, of course, is endless. He will always forgive you, if your heart is pure in its asking for mercy. If God, who does no bad, can forgive us of our transgressions, who are we to withhold it from others. Who are we to play an all powerful and merciless god? Forgiveness is a gift not only from God to us, but from us to the ones around us. Humans are notorious for messing up, none of us are strangers to that, so none of us should be a stranger to giving the gift of forgiveness.

When You Need Self-Confidence

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4

We seek for the answers to our low self-esteem in social media and selfies. We gauge our beauty and popularity on thumbs, hearts and followers. None of that really matters. When we feel down and unimportant, we must turn to Christ. He thought we were worth dying for. He suffocated and bled for us on the cross. He believes we are enough, so we know we could strive to be enough. He laid down his life that we may live, and that is the biggest self confidence booster I could ever think of.

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