The sun has been shining and we’ve had a real scorcher of a weekend here in Ireland. That can only mean one thing – it’s exam time!! Many of you are working hard, doing lots of revision, aiming to get the grades you need to get back into school or to university or to get your degree. You’ve made out your revision timetable and you’re sticking to it. And many of you will be like me – trying to do everything possible to avoid having to do any studying!! Even cleaning your room is more interesting that revising……and a 10 minute break can last up to 4 hours!!! (So stop reading this blog and get back to work!!!) I remember those days well!
The only advice I can give you is – Keep Going! Keep working hard. Do your best. Keep the end in sight, then you’ll have the whole summer to enjoy. Some of you might be thinking ”I’m a Christian so I’ll get the results God wants me to get, whether I work hard or not”? But is that right - if you don’t do any revision and get poor marks, is it God’s fault, then? I don’t think so!! 1 Samuel 2:30 has a 
lovely promise from the Lord – “…for those who honour Me I will honour…” But it’s a promise with a condition – if you honour God in everything you do, including your studying, then He will honour you. How He honours you is up to Him. For Daniel and his 3 friends it meant they were 10 times wiser that all the wise men in Babylon. Now, God may not make you 10 times wiser than everyone else doing their exams, but in some way He will honour you. Work hard at all you do. Next time you feel like you can’t be bothered to do some revision – stick at it! Do the best you can. Remember what Paul says – it includes your revising(!):
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men.”
Maybe in the back of your mind you may have that sinking feeling that when you open the exam paper you won’t be able to answer any of the questions! Help!! Well, don’t panic. Just quietly ask the Lord to bring back to your memory all you’ve learned and rely on His help. He’s not going to abandon you when you walk into an exam room – He’s right there with you.
Whatever you do through exam time, make sure you keep your time with God everyday. Don’t let the busyness of revision and exams push that time out of your life. You need to keep close to the Lord, so guard your Quiet Time each day.
Those of us in the Youth Challenge team are, and will be, praying for you throughout May and June until the exams are over. And if you want a wee break then why not come and join us for the SYC Fun Night on Saturday 12th June 2010 – more details later.
God bless.
Angie