What?! The PSAT Is Tomorrow?!?!

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16 

Well, tomorrow is the PSAT. Every time I think about it, my eyes bulge out and I have to swallow a few times. I'm a junior this year, so it's the last time I can take it. That creates a whole lot of pressure. Now, of course, as my mom reminds me, the PSAT is not mandatory. Scoring high will only increase my chances of getting an early scholarship and make the colleges more interested in me. But still...I want to do my best. I want to do the best.

See, even Maria gets worried!

When we are under a lot of pressure in life (especially for us firstborns) the devil tends to creep in and implant doubts in our minds. Or maybe that's just our sin nature. Whatever the case, here are some of the worries that have been plaguing me over the past week:

1. Sure I've been studying a lot, but what if I'm not actually applying what I've learned? I have this head knowledge, but am I really using it to its best potential?

2. I took the little practice test the College Board offers, and I scored worse than last year. Have I improved at all?

3. What if I get a really hard test? You know, those few words I've never heard of appear on the critical reading section, or I get stuck on a complicated math problem.

4. So I don't have to get a perfect score...but what if I'm just plain lazy and end up making dumb mistakes?

I pondered all of this the other night, letting it eat away at me and make my stomach hurt. But then I realized--it doesn't matter. I mean, I still want to do my best, but worrying is not going to help anything. God has a purpose and a plan for my life. He knows what score I'll get, and He has a reason for that score. Maybe He doesn't want me to go to a Christian four-year college, like I dream of doing. Maybe He wants me to go to the junior college and then transfer. Or maybe He wants me to go to a state university.

As a matter of fact, any number of things could happen to keep me from even taking the PSAT tomorrow. I could get sick, or get in a car wreck, or Jesus could come back today!!! So what am I worrying for?

Prayer: Jesus, please help me not to fret about the PSAT. Help me to trust in You, and to have faith that what ever happens is a part of Your plan. I can do nothing without You. Amen.

Are you taking the PSAT tomorrow? Are you worried? Confident? Hopeful? I'd love some company!