By Emilie Gruben.
As young women in today’s society, we are pressured to do everything like a man or greater. To own a house, have a job, make a livelihood, and be all that we can be. To get the best degree possible and go to school for as long as we can in order to meet expectations and make our dreams a reality for a better society. What a standard to meet, is it not? Before all of our expected careers, though, comes school. And that is where this pressure begins. Does our education really impact our lives in the ways that it does others’? Do grades and exams truly define us and determine our future? Should we let them?
Jobs are vital for remaining “afloat” in the world. Without a job you don’t have an income, and without an income, you eventually lose your financial position. When growing up, we rely on our parents and those in guardianship over us. But once we’re older, it’s up to us. Or is it? Our grades determine our future. If you don’t do well enough, you have to retake the test, again. And again. Suddenly you are behind. Or are you ahead? Grades do not mean you are any less smart than the person beside you. You could be just as intelligent, and do differently on the test because of the way you were taught, how long it took you to write, the way you wrote, etc. An elegantly written essay can have the same content as a straightforward one. But either one could get a higher or lower grade depending on who wrote it. The grade doesn’t define your true intelligence.
The way you learn is different from any other. You may learn while listening. You may learn while reading. You may learn by watching. These ways that you excel in can hinder your progress in others. Our abilities to learn, retain information, and improve in studies are all unique to ourselves. From the time we were thought into creation, God made us in His image. Psalms 139:14 reads “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
Our minds and bodies work just as God intended. Sin and the trials of the world present obstacles for us in many ways, including education. These trails are one of the hundreds that we will encounter in life. The way we learn will shift and change, improve, and fall back as time goes on. The way we continue to learn more is to never cease pursuing knowledge, no matter how long it takes for us to personally gain it. The grade doesn’t define your true ability to learn.
Stress and chaos fill our minds and lives. Many tests can be taken in the midst of excitement, heartbreak, joy, despair, or grief. A bad day or sour attitude can heavily impact your progress, or ability to think clearly. Due to family problems, I flunked my first driver’s test. I couldn’t see the curb, couldn’t remember to turn the blinker on, and could just barely manage to parallel park without reversing straight into the bright orange traffic cone.
I wasn’t a horrible driver, but the heaviness in my heart and mind was too much stress with the other adrenaline, and made me out to be so. Was this an excuse for my poor driving, that day? Absolutely not. If the instructor had passed me after such a performance, I would have been terrified of his discernment! We cannot blame our bad behaviors and performance on our circumstances or emotional state, lest we disappoint others and lie to ourselves.
The Bible says in 2 Cor. 6:2-5, “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you…We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings…as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” To hold ourselves accountable to our faith, judging our shortcomings with rational, unbiased eyes. God provides His hand to our aid in trials. The shortcomings are not lasting. Your grade does not confine you to your circumstances.
We see three different ways that your grades have no power over your life. They do not define your intelligence, ability to learn, or make you your circumstances. Just because the grades shouldn’t affect who you are, does not mean you shouldn’t try to get grades or accomplish things and learn. The Bible tells us to work for Him, and not for men. (Col. 3:23)
Lastly, as we are separate from our accomplishments and failures; we are separate from sin and the world. Our earthly life is separate from the heavenly kingdom. Our treasures here do not give us anything more or less beautiful in heaven. 1 Timothy 6:7 reads: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” Nothing is lasting here. For that, I am able to confidently say that our measures of goodness and ability mean nothing to God. The Bible says that our salvation is not by works, but through faith. (Eph. 2:8-9) Our salvation, the greatest thing we could ever possess, cannot be achieved by works. No amount of money, good grades or status could ever purchase something so valuable as being a Child of God.
No amount of education and intelligence is rival to the knowledge that comes from understanding and embracing the teaching of the Bible. The world is not a judge of how smart we are, or how faithful we are. We are not the world’s. As 1 John 5:4 says “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.” To me, a grade is a number on a screen or on a piece of paper. We can retake a test, a class, or even a year of studies. But to not have true knowledge and hope? That would be more devastating than any poor paying job or college choice.
1 Cor. 1:20 reads: “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” Sin is everywhere. We must be discerning. To not trust the world and its boasts of education. But never let us stop pursuing knowledge, and doing our best to praise God through our actions. Let us always do our best, constantly striving to succeed. But clinging to Christ, knowing that we are not defined by grades or failures.
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