trials.

Hello.

I actually finished trials exactly a week ago but I have been so indulged in post trials bliss that I haven't written a post about it.

Honestly, there was nothing dramatic or amazing about trials. I didn't have a sudden epiphany or suddenly remember Jesus' love for me. But maybe this is something in itself. Being the person I am, people often assume that I am crazy about marks and school. This is true to an extent, but this year, not only during trials, God has really answered my prayers and given me peace over this. I expected trials to be super stressful, I expected myself to break down and cry every night but by God's grace, this didn't happen. In the lead up to trials and throughout the year, I had been praying for God to take my heart so that everything I did was for Him, to take my heart away from the pointless studying. And He did!

The night before paper 1, I was stressed out, but after that it was ok. Throughout trials, I really began to have God as my 'study buddy' I suppose. Just talking to Him while I was studying, during the exam, before the exam. I prayed that in everything, my only goal would be to glorify Him, no matter what mark came out on the other end. Now as I get marks back, I think God really answered my prayers. Before, marks would be the determinant of my day, my mood, my life. Now, good marks and bad marks, I know it doesn't matter, the glory is all God's. I've learned to be thankful, no matter what number appears on a page. I'm really thankful that I went through trials relatively stress-free.

Something else I learnt during trials is that major exams should not stop me from being a servant of God. Often, things go on in life and we forget that we are first and foremost, servants of God. Whether its during trials, after trials, during HSC, after HSC, immense suffering, our biggest role is as His servant and our biggest job is telling other about Jesus. Exams are never an excuse.

I am so thankful for all the brothers and sisters that were praying for me during trials - thanks guys!

Also, the post-trials rest has been really great :P

RICE Rally is tomorrow also ^_^

Oh and I finished Isaiah and looking back, I'm really amazed by the literary quality of the Bible - all those extended metaphors ooooo

This verse reminded me of what is to come, something much better - relates to the sermon at church last Sunday which was about living life remembering that Jesus is returning

"See I will create a new heavens and a new earth.

The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, 

for I will create a Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.

I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people;

the sound of weeping and crying

will be heard in it no more."

Isaiah 65:17-20

(new post coming soon after Rally to do with evangelism)