The Complete Guide to Calming Exam StressSample

Have you ever seen a movie about a high school football team? One of those instant classic movies focused on the team's captain’s journey. He’s the best player on the team, confidence lavishing over him as he walks down the halls. But at the height of the movie comes the biggest game of the season with college scouts watching. Suddenly, everything takes a turn. He fumbles the ball one too many times. He passes to the wrong player. It turns out the pressure was too much. All those eyes on him expecting great things felt like a million boulders on his shoulders, and he falls apart.

A textbook Hollywood movie scene, right?

Although it’s riddled with cliches, it’s also a scene that’s a pretty accurate case study of our human nature. Sometimes, we lose sight of why we’re doing something, and we turn ourselves into performers. The eyes, thoughts and words of others feel all too important, and we lose our sense of confidence and direction under the pressure of it.

In high-pressure times of life like exam season, it’s so easy to feel this way—and rightly so. There seems to be much at stake: pass or fail, university acceptance letter or rejection. But as we tattoo the precious truths we’ve learned this week onto our hearts, we can remember that God has our future in His capable hands.

He is with us in our need and gives us everything we need to get through another day. In caring for our emotions, our physical body, our mental state and our spiritual well-being, He has told us that He’s given us all we need to feel at peace with the future. That includes the irreplaceable gift of a close circle of family and friends.

In today’s Hebrews text, we are reminded to “not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another…” If this text tells us anything, it’s that we need one another. We weren’t meant to face the hardships of life alone—even school pressure!

Take out your phone or a notebook and write down a list of five people that are your people. The ones that are your go-to, always-got-your-back kind of people. Take some time to message each one and ask for prayer as you go through your studying and exams. Be honest about your fears and anxieties. Let them speak words of life over you.

Invite people in and let God surprise you with how carried, advocated for and prepared you feel for the road ahead. You weren’t meant to carry all this alone.

You are held.