As a typical student gets a flunk grade, and so does a Christian might possibly get such.
Is it possible that a believer, a son or daughter of the Creator of the heavens and the earth could get a failing grade? Absolutely!
We heard it a countless times, “Nobody’s perfect.”
Nevertheless, as Christians, we are all aware of the fact that Jesus died on the cross, exchanged his righteousness for our sin.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
We also knew that we are saved by grace through faith. Hence, by faith, we become victorious. By faith, we become more than conquerors. By faith, we have overcome the world. But when we go talk about our academics, how come we get a failing grade if we are truly victorious? Where is victory there?
Reminder #1: Just because you fail doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Your failure could be your stepping stone to excellence.
Sometimes we see failure as a stumbling block rather than a stepping stone for us to learn from our failure and excel more.
Let’s say we give our best to our academics that there’s no point for us to get an F and we go straight to God and ask him, “How about your promise, Lord? Jeremiah 29:11. Where’s your promise there?”
Reminder#2: Just because you got a failing grade doesn’t mean God will never fulfill what He has promised to you in the beginning.
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6
Whatever God has started in us, He himself will take it to completion.
His faithfulness is never measured by our doubts, by our fears.
The fact that God is faithful gives us the full assurance that when He said it, He will surely fulfill it.
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:13
Nonetheless, we should never forget that we still have a significant part in fulfilling the destiny God has prepared for us beforehand.
What shall we do now with our failing grade? With the failed subjects?
- Remember God.
Stay connected with God. Don’t neglect your quiet time with God just because you fail. Remember the times he rescued you; those moments you were in trouble yet he didn’t leave you. Remember God. Regardless of your standing in class, your relationship with God should be your topmost priority.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” -Psalm 77:11
- Stay the course of doing your school works, may it be assignments (lang), projects, or thesis.
There’s no better way to recover your dead grade than to be faithful with your studies. Stay the course. Continue doing the things you frequently do when studying. If it’s listening to music or having breaks after a 1-hour study, push lang ‘te. Just make sure it’s not the reason why you failed.
- Persevere while waiting to the promise of God to be fulfilled.
Waiting doesn’t mean you’re not doing anything. Study more. If there’s anything you don’t understand about the subject, ask your professor or your block mate who really knows the matter. PERSEVERE. Wag maarte. It’s true that there are difficult and deadly subjects but you haven’t come to the point of shedding your blood. PERSEVERE. 🙂
- Achieve excellence. Kill the attitude of mediocrity. Give your 100%.
Excellence is not based on external. Excellence is an attitude. No matter how high or low your grade would be, as long as you give your 100% to it, excellence is there. Pour out your heart into your academics whether it’s your favorite or your most hated subject (particularly those subjects you don’t need when you graduate. Still, pour out your heart into it!) Be the best student out there! Don’t settle for “pwede na.” Give your 100%.
- Be grateful.
Be grateful with every grade you receive, whether it’s 1.0 or 2.5 or so. There is no greater, deeper, more lasting relief than to know that our future is secured, living moment by moment with thankfulness on all that God has done for us, and looking forward at all God promises to do for us because of Christ.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
To reiterate, failing doesn’t make us a failure. It just means that the grace of God is sufficient and made perfect in our weakness. His grace is more than enough to sustain us. Not only that, failure makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared for life IF we have learned from it.
How can I share stuff like this?
Simple. I got a failing grade (not only once but twice) in two of my accounting subjects. Yes, it made me think to shift from my course but God suddenly intruded,
“…Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,…” Jeremiah 31:6
This is my story.
Jessica Verzon 