What Would Jesus Do? – Exams Edition

School is hard. You know what’s even harder? Exam week. Sometimes it all gets to be a little too much: papers, projects, presentations, cumulative tests… Only a super-human can get everything finished in time!

Good news: We have something better than a super-human on our side. (Hint: It’s Jesus.) Here are some great words of advice and comfort that a cool guy once said. Hopefully, they can make your exam week a little more bearable.

When you have, like, a billion exams and you don’t know how you’re going to study for all of them:

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34)

Jesus is telling you to take things one day at a time. Make a study schedule, so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Stop worrying about the material that you still don’t know for your test in three days. Focus on what you are studying now. If you take things day by day, you will definitely be prepared when your exams come.

When your regular study spot in the library is taken by some kid who probably never sets foot in the library, except during exam week:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you…and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.” (Luke 6:27-30)

Jesus is right. You probably shouldn’t march up to that desk thief and demand your spot back. To be honest, she probably needs it more than you do, if this is the first time you’ve seen her in the library all year. Wow, she must have a lot of studying to catch up on. PRAY FOR HER.

When you have been studying all week with late nights, early mornings, and no time to nap:

“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Go ahead and rest with Christ. Maybe take a nice break to pray and relieve some of that stress. And gosh darn it, get some sleep! Jesus is literally telling you to sleep.

When you oversleep on the morning of your exams, and you just want to run out the door in your pajamas:

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” (John 21:12)

Yeah. He actually said that. Jesus knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You won’t do your best without a little food in your stomach, so at least grab an apple on your way out the door.

When an exam is so hard, and you just want your mommy:

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” (John 14:18)

Of course, your mommy (or daddy) can’t physically come to you during a test to hold you and tell you it’s all going to be OK…That’s what Jesus is for! He is everywhere, so just call on him whenever. Say a little prayer while you’re stuck on a question. Jesus probably won’t answer it for you, but he can give you a little bit of peace and courage to help you through.

When you’re not sure how you did on an exam, and you keep obsessing over it:

“…shake the dust off your feet…” (Luke 9:5)

Before Taylor Swift, there was Jesus Christ telling us to “Shake it off.” In this case, he is telling his disciples (and you) to stop sweating what you can’t change. Haters gonna hate. Graders gonna grade.

When exams are over, and you’re finally free!

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.” (Luke 6:23)

You made it! Jesus is really excited for you! What’s more, you got something out of this. You have realized that life is full of small obstacles and suffering, but that’s what gets you closer to eternal life with God! When you offer up your exam-week suffering, Christ repays you in joy without measure.