Spring is an indication of exam season for many students in the UK. Whether you're a student at GCSE, A Level or University, when studying we all want to do well and pressures to succeed often creep in. Exams are a time to put the knowledge we have learnt over the past year to the test. In recent years, there has been a switch in scenery for many due to the pandemic forcing many to study at home, away from fellow students. For some, this may have made it harder to get back into the routine of studying in a different environment and the lack of socialising in school could have affected performance.

However, despite the pressures, as Christians, we are encouraged to trust God in every circumstance and that includes exams. Here are some tips on trusting God in exam season.

1. Remember your identity

In society, your success in life is often defined by things such as fame, qualifications and finances. As such, it can be easy to fall into the trap of heavily relying on these things to define who we are. But we should be reminded of what Jesus said that as Christians, we are living in the world but not of it (John 17:16). So, whilst it can be nice and we should strive to do well in exams to get good results, this should not be the foundation upon which we place our faith and identity.

1 John 3:1-2 puts it like this "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Being children of God is our identity and we should put this identity above any qualification or worldly success we may achieve.

2. Believe that God is able

Jeremiah 29: 11 reads: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

When we trust in the plan God has for our life, we believe that his plan will prevail. That means no matter what the world throws at us, we’re called to remain in God and follow His promptings, and His plans will succeed. Yes as humans we make mistakes, but God's grace and power is bigger than our mistakes.

So even if you don't do as well as you had hoped for in your exam, know that God is able to make a way out of no way as all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26) to ensure the plans He has for your life will succeed regardless of what the world tells you.

3. Pray

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NIV

Throughout it all, pray. Pray to hear God's voice in the season of your exams. Pray that He will help you to be focused and do the best you can be. But also pray that you wouldn't place your identity in your exams over who you are in Christ. God is a spiritual living God who hears the prayers of the righteous (James 5:16b). He cares for your heart’s desires (Psalms 37:4), and wants you to work willingly at whatever you do as if you were working for him and not for man.