Expert: Carl Fuglein - 1/14/2003

Question
Currently I am facing doubts and worry on my future. It would be the release of a major examination result on march. Although I have a certain confidence in it, I still feel doubtful about the outcome. This examination result will determine my future and a weak result will certainly shatter my future dreams. I mean I have work very hard for it and even acknowledge God as my hope. But still I feel rather disturb by the fact that I might not make it. Therefore now I would really need some enlightenment and encouragement from you. Thank you, God bless and hope to hear from you soon.

Answer
Hi Jason-

All of us worry at one time or another.  Surveys show that the vast majority of things that we worry about never come true.  It sounds to me like you did everything you could to study for your exam.  If you did, then there is nothing at all you can do about it now, except pray that you pass, and that if you don't, pray for God's wisdom in discerning what He wants you to do.

What I would do if I were you would be to continue to be confident, and imagine in your mind two things and how you would handle those two things.

1)  Imagine that you pass the exam.  Then plan what you are going to do next,  how will you search for a job, what will you do with your certification, what will be your next great accomplishment.

2)  Imagine that you DON'T pass the exam.  Can you take it again?  If so, plan how you will study for it so you can pass it the next time.  If you CAN'T take it again, then start thinking about other careers that are similar.  Sometimes, God's way is to show you through failure, what the right way is.  

Know this - the only difference between success and failure is simple - success is getting up 1 time more than you've fallen.  I.e., if you stay down, you've failed.  If you get back up and dust yourself off, then you have already started succeeding at your next goal.

Worry takes up a lot of energy - focus that energy on something new.  Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair - it takes up all your energy, but gets you absolutely nowhere.

God IS your hope.  Read Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And worry is NOT the way,  Matthew 6:25-34

25  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
28  "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jason - I think you've done everything you've can - trust in God, and He will show you the way.  I pray that you did well and passed, and if you didn't, I pray that God will show you the way to go.

Blessings,

carl

ps please take the time to rate my answer, and don't hesitate to ask for clarification.