This month, our theme is hope and acceptance, especially when we think about tests and exams – something many of us are facing right now or soon.
We all know how tests and exams can feel. You stay up revising, your heart beats fast before the exam starts, and sometimes the questions seem harder than you expected.
When we get a mark that’s lower than we wanted, or when we make a silly mistake in the paper, it’s easy to feel upset or angry with ourselves. Acceptance means gently saying: “This is what happened today. It doesn’t feel good, but it’s okay. I’m still learning.” Accepting the result doesn’t mean we stop trying – it means we stop fighting against what already happened. That brings peace, and peace makes room for clearer thinking next time.
Hope is the light that comes after acceptance. Hope says: “This one test doesn’t decide my future. I can study differently, ask for help, and do better next time.” Hope reminds us that God has a plan for each of us that’s much bigger than any single exam. I’ve seen students who didn’t do well in one test, but they kept hope alive – they worked steadily, prayed quietly, and later saw improvement. Hope turns “I failed” into “I’m still growing.”
Together, acceptance and hope work like this: Acceptance helps us face reality with calm. Hope helps us look forward with courage. These do not only work in exams, it works in everyday lives, guiding us being a better person. Accepting our failure and our weakness, and having hope that we will be able to learn from our mistakes and keep going on. Be confidents in accepting ourselves, and having faith that we will become the one we would like to be.
And the best part? God gives us both. He accepts us completely, no matter our marks, and He fills us with hope because His love never fails.
So this week, when you feel exam stress, try this small prayer in your heart: “Lord, help me accept what I cannot change, and give me hope to keep going.”
Wednesday, 18 February 2026