As much as we were praying it would go by as slowly as possible, Thanksgiving break flew by in a blur. Now we find ourselves back on our college campus, with the weight of final exams upon us. This is usually the time where we can feel the stress and anxiety building up inside us. With Christmas in just a little over three weeks, final exams are indisputably the last thing we want to be thinking about. Unfortunately, they are inescapable and it will be in our own favor if we make the decision to put in our best effort. If you feel the impending stress already threatening your sanity, here are seven wonderful Bible verses to serve as an encouragement and gentle reminder:
1) “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)
Keep your eyes faithfully on the Lord. Only He can fill the void, only He can give you true peace. The enemy wants you to fret and worry, but too much worry reflects a lack of trust. Trust that God will carry you through anything, as long as you keep your eyes on Him, and keep Him at your right hand.
2) “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, Whose Word I praise – in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)
Final exams can be stressful but do not allow them to have control over you, for they will only be as stressful as you make them. We need to praise God and His Word, put our trust in Him, and understand that if we do not get as high of a grade as we were hoping for, whether it be on an exam or on how we are living our lives daily, it is not the end of the world. For God is gracious and merciful enough to give us more opportunities to grow.
3) “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6)
We should strive to keep our minds set on Him and His will. If we focus on the godless things of this world and neglect to give God the glory and praise that He more than deserves, we should not expect to be blessed inside and out. If we allow ourselves to be guided and led by the Holy Spirit, and to not lean on our own understanding, but trust Him above all else, we will find ourselves in a place surrounded by His love and peace.
4) “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:11-12).
Prayer is extremely important and we should engage in it every day, but we cannot sit back, neglect to work diligently, and expect to receive good grades for the entirety of our exams. Rather, we should pray for God to help us prepare well through the material and to give us peace throughout the period.
5) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24).
As followers of Christ, we should aim to get good grades, not to please other people, but because we yearn to do everything as though we are doing it for Christ. It is He who we should be living for, and who we should be primarily wanting to please and glorify. Whatever we do, let us work with all our might and endeavor to honor Him first and foremost with our hard work.
6) “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4).
In other words, a lazy person wants much but will receive little, but those who work hard and diligently for the Lord will prosper. We should not slack off and revert to indolence, expecting God to do all the work. Rather, we should allow the beautiful Word of God to motivate and encourage us to put in the work and effort, and do so with a joyful heart.
7) “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).
Our God is so good; He remains faithful to us even when we make mistakes and stumble over our own two feet. The Bible tells us in the book of James to rejoice in trials, because they help us to persevere, and they bring us closer to Him. Have faith that the God who created the universe and knit us together will carry us through anything that burdens us. This goes beyond mere final exams, it delves into the trials that we will face in the world and in our daily lives. As Christians, we must accept that God never said our lives would be easy. In fact, He tells us “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We will face things far more challenging than something as small as final exams, therefore we must embrace every challenge we face and treat it as a blessing and an opportunity to grow, strengthen and mature in our faith.
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With 11 exams, 5 coursework deadlines and still having to find time to take the dog for its daily hour walk, I think it’s safe to say that taking time out of your day to meditate on the word is the furthest thing away from your mind.
Exam season without a doubt is one of the most stressful times of the year for any student around the world. As the days go by, it is usually at this time that we panic a lot more as anxiety and stress begin to take over our minds.
So if you are feeling the stress extremely deeply, here are eight encouraging Bible verses along with gentle reminders to encourage you to keep on going:
Abeer SaadMore and more students get stressed out even more around this time of the year.
Deuteronomy 31:6
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’
Be STRONG and not AFRAID. Two very important words that should echo in your mind. Remember that God will see you through this season and will not leave you to crumble into pieces. Let your mind be at rest and do not be afraid, for God is with you at all times.
Philippians 4 : 6-7
‘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.’
When you present your worries, burdens and fears to God in prayer, he gives you the peace to not worry about situations. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you wont fall, it means Jesus will catch you when you do. The closer you walk with God, the less room for anything to come in-between, especially worries.
Romans 12:11-12
‘Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’
Prayer is super important and we should engage in it every day, but we cannot sit back, do absolutely nothing, and still expect to receive good grades for our exams (if only life was that easy). Rather, we should pray for God to help us prepare well through the material and to give us peace throughout the exam period. No peace is greater than the peace that comes from God.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’
Placing your confidence in the Lord will only take you to higher heights. Walk confidently in who you are, what you do and with the assurance that you will be the best person you can be after this season is over.Confidence and belief in God and yourself will bring you strength and many other achievements in life. There will be no opening for failure so trust that he will be by your side through it all.
Proverbs 3:5-6
‘Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.’
The key word here is ALL, something a lot of us fail to do. It doesn’t say with ‘some’ of your heart or ‘half’ of your heart, it says ALL. Keep trusting God. He is always in control even when your circumstances may seem out of control. When we put our problems in Gods hands, he will always put peace in our hearts.
Daniel HeggieThere are thousands of scriptures in the bible which talk about dealing with stress.
1 Peter 5:6–7
‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.’
During this season you may feel like you are all alone, but I love this scripture because it reminds you that you aren’t and God cares for you. Before the exam stress, during the exam stress and even after it’s all done, his love and care for you will always remain the same.
Colossians 3:23-24.
‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.’
In all honesty, we should aim to get good grades, not to please other people, but because we yearn to do everything as though we are doing it for Christ. Yes. Whether we are going to work, reading, revising, we should everything like it is for him. It is Him who we should be living for, and who we should be primarily wanting to please and glorify. Whatever we do, let us work with all our might and try to honour Him first and foremost with our hard work.
God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle and a reward for your hard work and faithfulness. Trust in him and don’t give up.
Let us say a little prayer :
‘Heavenly Father, even though I am stress, I may not understand how everything will work out, but I trust you. I don’t see a way, but I know you will make a way. I have faith at this very moment you are touching my heart, removing doubt and working in me. Things may look dark and bleak now, But I have faith that my dawn is coming! In Jesus’ name, Amen.’
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Luke Gottlieb
I must confess that during exams, I sometimes find myself spending less time with God.
Tired from hours of cramming, I start getting too tired to spend time with God after a long day’s work. I begin to lose my priorities. I unintentionally pack my days so full with study that there’s no room left for him. Before I know it, my usual routine of setting aside time for the Lord each day flies out the window. It’s not an intentional decision to turn from God… but an insidious process that happens when I lose my priorities in the face of looming barrier exams.
But every year when this happens, one particular verse comes back to me and grabs my attention. It is a famous one which has been the recurring theme of my medical school life for the last five years:
Matthew 6:33-34
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
When I remember this passage, I remember what is really important in life. I realise anew what is the true key to success. What amount of human effort can ever be more effective than the help that God gives to anyone who seeks his kingdom?
Every time I’ve tried to live my life in accordance with this passage, I’ve seen God do things which I thought weren’t possible. This whole blog is a testimony of those stories. Now, as I look back after five years of exams, I realise again that my success in exams so far has come from seeking the Lord, not from trying to achieve out of my own human strength.
So with my final exams of medical school coming up in six days, I’ve decided to post a collection of my favourite Bible verses (categorised by topic) that have helped me through every exam so far from the last five years. These are as much a reminder to myself, as an encourager to other students facing exams.
Lord, help me to take a break from the text books every so often and remember where my greatest help comes from:
Psalm 121:2
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Bible Verses about Stress, Anxiety, and Doubt
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Proverbs 3:25-26
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
I will not worry about what is outside my control. God is fully in control of my exams, my destiny, my results.
Psalm 139:16
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
You weren’t chosen because you were perfect for the task. God deliberately chose in spite of your weaknesses.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
Isaiah 41:9-10
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Corinthians 2:15-17
15…Who is equal to such a task?… 17 …in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
It’s normal to have times of depression. But God will rescue you out of them!
Daniel 10:19
“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”
1 Kings 19:3-8
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
God will help you to persevere – in hardships, distress and sleeplessness.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5…in hard work, sleepless nights… 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report…yet we live on; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
You do not face exams alone: GOD is right by your side fighting for you.
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I refuse to dwell on my past failures, my past mistakes, or the impossibility of my circumstances.
Philippians 3:13-14
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I will recall past victories and remember that God has been faithful to me in the past.
Psalm 77:7-12
To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.
1 Samuel 7:12
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
I will not evaluate my circumstances with worldly eyes.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight.
God gives you sleep and rest and peace.
Proverbs 3:24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Psalm 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
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 hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
I’m allowed to acknowledge that life is hard. But through my suffering, I see God.
Psalm 34:19 (HCSB)
19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.
2 Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
Bible Verses about Motivation
I will work to the best of my ability because I am working for God, not myself, or anyone else.
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
God has a GOOD purpose for your life in this journey.
Psalm 138:8 (ESVUK)
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever.
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
1 Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him.
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
These trials and tribulations are God’s training for the purposes he has for you, both now, and in the future.
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 …for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Song of Songs 3:7-8
7 Look! It is Solomon’s carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
8 all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.
Luke 6:40
The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
I will be faithful to the academic calling that God has placed on my life.
Matthew 25:14-21
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more…
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Luke 12:48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
One day, God will show you that all your effort and struggle was worth it.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Bible Verses about God’s Blessing
God is with you, and God is in you.
Matthew 28:20
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
God shows his favour on you, a beloved child of God.
2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.
God grants you favour in the eyes of your examiners.
Genesis 39:4
Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
Genesis 39:21
The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
Daniel 1:9
Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel…
God increases your ability to study.
Daniel 1:17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.
Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Deuteronomy 33:11
Bless all his skills, Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Exodus 35:30-32
He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills
God helps the powerless against the mighty.
2 Chronicles 14:11
11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”
Be confident, regardless of my human ability, because your confidence is in God.
2 Corinthians 5:8-9
We are confident, I say…we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Psalm 71:5
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
Psalm 18:29
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
God renews your energy levels.
Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 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.
Bible Verses about Perspective
Never lose sight of what is really important. Exams are temporary. But serving and seeking God has value for eternity.
Matthew 6:33-34
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Psalm 105:4
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 27:8
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Never let exam stress make you forget to count the blessings in life.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Colossians 2:6-8
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Never listen to worldly advice. When everyone around me is doing things their own way, I will succeed in a different way – trusting in God, not in myself.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 44:5-7
5 Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 33:16-19
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
1 Peter 2:6
For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Psalm 91:7
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
God can do miracles. Impossible is nothing. God is stronger than you think. Exams are nothing to God.
Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Jeremiah 32:27
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
God knows best. If his will is for me to fail, it’s because he has his reasons. And I know one day, whether on heaven or on earth, I will realise his good reasons.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 55:9
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Psalm 27:13-14
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
God has joy over me and loves me and gives me joy no matter what the outcome of the exams are.
Nehemiah 8:10
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Psalm 147:10-11
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
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