It's that time of year again, when students everywhere put down their pints, stop claiming discounts and pick up their notes for the first time in the academic year- yes, exams are back to tease, torment and demoralise the populace (who, it seems, are increasing in both youth and number, but that is a comment for another day).
Some lock themselves in the library for days on end trying to remember that last piece of information on plant genetics or the algerian war or the gram-schmidt procedure, while others leave their bedroom only to go to the toilet or make a sandwich. Much weight is lost as they sacrifice meals to get that last piece of knowledge away before the big day. It's horrible, especially since the weather is starting to get nice and some people don't even have any exams!
It's tougher for some people than others, though.
The last two exam periods I had were both traumatic in their own ways. Last year my grandad died in the middle of them and my dad advised me not to come home for the funeral so i could finish my exams. It was the right decision, but it was horrible to be sat in the library when I could have been paying my respects to my grandfather.
The year before that, I made a horrendous mistake that left my self-confidence at an all-time low and I still wear the scars (physical and mental) to this day. Although, if I'm honest, the damage was largely caused by my initial repressing of the incident (due to an impending exam) and it coming back to bite me later, rather than the incident itself, per se.
These are big setbacks no doubt, but somehow they pale in comparison to what pain some people go through this time of year every year. I wish there are some words of comfort I could draw that would suit everybody, but I can't think of any at the minute.
But why do we have to go through this? Simple, we are a fallen creation. Genesis 3:17b-19
[God said to Adam after he had eaten from the tree of knowledge] Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken; for you are dust and to dust you shall return.
our sin has meant that we won't get everything provided for us, we have to work for it, and it will be painful and excruciating at times. And, worst, we won't be the ones who benefit from it all the time.
Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This.. is a vanity.
I have taken this passage slightly out of context to make the point, but hopefully you can see that sometimes life just doesn't seem fair- you work hard and your efforts don't seem to make any difference to you- it's all wasted effort.
The consequences of the fall reach far beyond this, but there is hope. We don't have to live as fallen people anymore- God has forgiven us through the sacrifice of His Son and we need not fear sin. Work is still important in our lives, but it can be a powerful way to glorify God if we work hard and appreciate how God has shown Himself through what we are learning. Trust Him , and He will lead you the right way, even if your exams don't go as planned. It might be the only thing that keeps you sane....
God bless
Andrew
[Addendum: I was trying to do about ten things at once when I wrote this so it's entirely possible it makes no sense or that the passages I quoted are totally out of context. If so... oops. In my defence I was just trying to help...]
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