[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Fruit of the Spirit – Peace” subhead=”July 18, 2018 | Fruit of the Spirit” background_layout=”dark” background_overlay_color=”rgba(38,38,38,0.32)” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_image=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Fruits-of-the-Spirit-Peace.jpg” custom_padding=”200px||200px|” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” image_orientation=”center” content_orientation=”center” custom_button_two=”off” button_two_icon_placement=”right” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_icon_placement=”right” /][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]
[dropcap]I[/dropcap] have just finished final year exams. My overall mark was dependent on these exam results, so I guess you could say the pressure was on! Many of my friends and course-mates were completely obsessed with attaining the best possible mark, and it was so easy to get carried along with them. One afternoon I was majorly panicking about some work that I just couldn’t get into my head. It seemed impossible and I was just reading the same page over and over. It was frustrating.
That evening that I was walking back from the library and was just suddenly struck by how God is God and that he is faithful to his people and promises. That means he is sovereign, he is in control, he has a plan, a purpose and gives me a hope that is far greater than, and in no way dependent on, my exam results or anything I can do. That was a huge relief and realisation.
In that moment, I offered up my exam results, my intellect, my worries, my frustrations, and all the pressure of it all. I realised that actually so much of the pressure was to do with pride and how I wanted to be perceived and defined according to my results. I caught an insight into God’s perspective on my situation. I saw the value of hard work and diligence, but also the utter stupidity of trying to define myself by exam results. I’ve been redeemed and bought by the blood of Jesus. I’ve been adopted into God’s kingdom and family. That’s amazing — crazy even. It brought me so much peace.
For the next month leading up to exams, and in the exams itself I felt a deep sense of peace and contentment — something that could only come through God’s Spirit expressing his grace and presence within me.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”35904″ show_more=”on” show_author=”off” show_comments=”on” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ header_font=”|300|||||||” header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.3em” pagination_font_size_tablet=”51″ pagination_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_padding=”|||” saved_tabs=”all” show_content=”off” show_thumbnail=”on” show_date=”on” show_categories=”on” use_dropshadow=”off” use_overlay=”off” background_layout=”light”]
[/et_pb_blog][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
