How I passed an exam I failed twice

Kayleigh Mills, 2nd Apr 2018
Tags: Life Blog Challenges Dreams Education Exams Success

I’m writing to you from the top of a mountain. Not literally, just metaphorically.

Today was the victory I had been waiting for, for three months. Three months that have been marked with perseverance and determination.

Image Credit: Giphy

How do you respond to situations when they don’t go the way you planned?

I want to ask you, how do you respond to situations when they don’t go the way you planned?

Perseverance is such a buzz word. To persevere seems so attractive from the outside, but when you’re in the thick of the process, perseverance is really hard. It’s continually choosing to have faith and to believe the best, in yourself, but also in the situation you find yourself in. It’s about getting back off the floor and stumbling forward, even when circumstances are trying to pull you down.

There is such a weight that comes with perseverance. Like an awkward anticipation mixed with a touch of anxiety. Does that even make sense?

We need to allow our failures to fuel us forward, and not let the anxiety of “it might not work out” stop us in our tracks.

The weight of expectation can be very motivating, but it also has the potential to cripple your spirit, because the fear of failure can so easily snatch what God is growing inside your soul. So, we have to find a balance between these two emotions. We need to allow our failures to fuel us forward, and not let the anxiety of “it might not work out” stop us in our tracks.

Having faith in your dreams is the medicine that can remedy your doubt.

Having faith in your dreams is the medicine that can remedy your doubt.

So, this mountain that I mentioned has thrown me into a long metaphorical hike. It took me three attempts to pass an important maths test.

During this process I’ve questioned my worth and whether I’m equipped to pursue a career in teaching; whether it’s a promise God actually spoke over my life and whether mathematical fractions have any real value. But it’s from this place of vulnerability and weakness, in an area that I need to have strength for my career, that I found the fire to keep pressing on. And as I promised to keep revising my times tables, and practicing long division, I know Jesus was with me the whole time cheering me on.

The Bible says “We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us to develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens out confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4

Failure is an invitation to develop character.

Failure is an invitation to develop character. It’s a season where we can grow closer to God, and increase our faith and expectation for the thing we’re anticipating, declaring the truth that our God is for us, and is a good Father.

It’s also a time for us to develop character, and to mature. Failure helps us to increase our perspective, knowing that we often have to work hard for the things we desire, and in doing so, we increase our confidence and hope.

That’s such an incredible thought!

When we go through challenging situations, we can know that those situations don’t have the power to defeat us.

When we go through challenging situations, we can know that those situations don’t have the power to defeat us; if we choose to think about failure the same way that the writer of Romans does. Failure becomes a season of potential, where we have the opportunity to grow in ways we wouldn’t, if we had just passed the test on the first attempt.

Just because it didn’t happen in your time, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Don’t let that metaphorical hike dampen your spirits. Just because it didn’t happen in your time, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Have enough faith to hold onto the assurance of the promises God has spoken over your life, and run with freedom. Get your hopes up, keep moving forward, and draw closer to your good, good Father. Know that he is cheering you on and wants you to succeed.