Column by Manning Pastor Sam Livingston: Testing time can be a stressful time
Stress can be produced by a lot of things. We seem to get stressed out when we must stand up and speak before a crowd of people. We get stressed out for events such as a wedding, especially if we are one of the two main participants. When it comes time to take a test, we can't help but get a little tense.
Testing can cause individuals to even get sick leading up to the big day. I found out that the two main reasons for stress before a test come down to two things, not properly prepared for the exam and a lack of confidence. I understand that it is virtually impossible to prepare for all of life's challenges, but allow me to help with a few tips. The foundation of your day should be a conversation with the king of kings. Prayer is the No. 1 tool of preparation to do well on the tests of your day.
Everybody hated pop quizzes. You show up for class, and oops, there it is. Life is the same way; pop quizzes show up all day long. First, somebody beat you to a parking space. Then the person walking into the building closes the door in your face. These are some of the many pop quizzes that we can't get around. Prayer prepares us to pass the quizzes with flying colors.
Sometimes preparing for a test requires a study partner. I took some courses in college that I didn't have a clue about. However, after teaming up with a few classmates, we all made it through. In life, we need accountability partners. We need people who will tell us the truth. Surrounding yourself with yes people will cripple your growth. Friends should be able to disagree with you and still be a friend; at least, that's the way it should be.
The truth of the matter is this. We should expect to be tested every day by people, circumstances, our environment and whatever else. When we expect rain, we dress accordingly and carry an umbrella. Likewise, we should carry a smile for the many evil people we will encounter today. We should have a little cash to place in the hands of those who don't look homeless but can't pay for their lunch because medical bills consumed their finances. We could be walking by a person who possesses an Abrahamic covenant with the Lord, whereas the Lord told them that, "I will bless them that bless you."
Who can you count on to be honest with you today? Will you get angry when they call you out? What happens when they grade your interactions with other people? The key is to be a person of integrity. Integrity means we have adherence to moral and ethical principles. We practice what we preach, we walk the talk, and we do not waver from our honest beliefs. We might fail a test every now and then; however, we should make every attempt to get it right the next time.
The other trait that I identified is confidence. The Apostle Paul was confident that he could endure basically any test because of the working of the Holy ghost within him. We need help to pass the daily tests life places on our desk. Confidence is birthed when we know who we are in Christ Jesus. Let's be honest, if it wasn't for the spirit of the Lord within us, we would be headlining the local and national papers. Paul said, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," Philippians 1:6. Our level of confidence increases during each test. We begin to realize that the battles are not ours. So, we must rely on our conscience, our faith and our ability to communicate the answers that we have been given by the Lord God almighty.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless." We do not know who will administer our next test today, but we should never bury our morals when supplying the answers.
You can pass the toughest test today.
Sam Livingston is pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Manning.