Exam season can bring stress, pressure, and anxiety to students. After hours and perhaps even weeks of studying comes the pressure to do well in the exam. Getting a low score can be disheartening and sometimes may even threaten the overall grade for the semester.
There are many reasons we may feel scared, stressed, or anxious before exams. It’s possible that we struggled with learning the material and retaining the information we studied. It can also be that we haven’t rendered enough time, effort, and commitment to studying the material because of other things in life that need our attention. Or perhaps we simply feel pressure because of the challenge to do better in school.
Whatever our reasons are for feeling a bit nervous before exams, it’s important to remember that all will be well, and we will have peace of mind if we take a few minutes to genuinely reach out to the Lord and ask for His guidance before, during, and after the test. Whether we feel excited, anxious, or both, seeking the Lord’s help will allow us to clear our minds from distracting thoughts and answer the test questions with ease and calmness.
Prayer before exam
Lord God,
It astounds me that You have been guiding me since the very beginning up to where I am right now. I wouldn’t achieve anything that I have dreamed and worked for without You. You have guided me throughout my academic career, teaching me to arm myself with not only intellectual knowledge but spiritual too. Your greatness touches me in ways unimaginable. It was through your guidance that I was able to set my dreams into motion.
Many times, I let myself be led astray. There were many times when instead of holding on to my faith, I let myself succumb to worldly temptations. Now, once again, I humbly ask for Your forgiveness and grace. I ask for Your patience in teaching me to be a better servant, a better Christian, and a better human being. I have sinned many times, I have repented over and over again, yet I am still imperfect. I may fall short of Your glory, but it would be the greatest honor of my life if You continue to use me as an instrument to bless the lives of others and to remind them of Your holy presence in our lives.
I am grateful, Lord God, for the little things in life that make me happy. Thank You for waking up every day to the warmth of the sun and the chirping of the birds. Thank You for greeting me with the smiles of my family and friends. Thank You for making my life comfortable but still full of daily adventures. I am forever thankful for the safety, strength, wisdom, and kindness that You grant my loved ones and me. Whenever I feel Your presence, I shine; and in turn, I brighten the days of others. Thank You for guiding me throughout my long and challenging journey as a student toward academic excellence, which will surely aid me in my future career. I am eternally grateful to be blessed with the wisdom to pursue my studies, the motivation to keep my dreams alive, and the strength to carry on despite the obstacles.
Lord God, I am now faced with another challenge in my academic journey. I studied hard for hours, hoping that I will ace this exam, and now I am praying for Your guidance to help me. I pray for wisdom so that I will be able to answer the questions with the correct information in mind. I pray for good memory and that I will remember everything I dedicatedly studied for. I pray for good scores, another victory that I will put under Your glorious name.
These I ask in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Short prayer for exam success
Lord God, I ask for Your guidance as I am about to take my exam. I pray that all the effort I spent on studying the material will be worth it. I know that without You watching over me, I won’t be able to achieve the best score. I put my faith and trust in You, Lord. Guide me through this exam and lead me to success. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Word of God
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:33-34 NRSVUE
He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless.
Isaiah 40:29 NRSVUE
With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 118:6-9 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Joseph of Cupertino
Saint Joseph of Cupertino, you have guided countless students to the Lord and helped them pray for academic success. As the patron saint of students, you have helped them survive the pressure, stress, and anxiety by leading them to the Lord, the source of our comfort and blessings. Whenever you help a tired learner, the Lord hears you.
Saint Joseph, you grew up with your own share of hardship when it comes to learning. As I now experience another challenge in my academic journey, I pray to you as a weary and anxious student in need of help. I humbly ask for your voice in praying for the Lord’s guidance for me as I take this exam. I may have worked hard for this, but I know that I am a mere mortal, and I cannot face this alone without our Almighty God’s guiding hand on my shoulder.
Saint Joseph of Cupertino, please help me pray to the Lord for guidance, wisdom, peace of mind, and academic excellence. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Amen.
Further reflection
An upcoming exam can make us feel a wide range of emotions: anxiety, pressure, excitement, stress, sometimes all. There are times when these emotions may cloud our minds. Although it’s normal, it may cloud our minds while taking a test and make us lose our focus.
This is why it’s important to seek the Lord’s guidance prior to taking an exam. God will not alter our scores after the exam, but He can guide us through our worries and through the test if we pray to Him beforehand. Praying to Him not only allows us to feel calm and more confident before the test, but it can also strengthen the bond we have with the Lord, and we will remember that with every trial we face, there is always an omnipotent God who loves us and guides us every step of the journey.
Making prayer a ritual before undertaking a stressful task or challenge can help us grow into more confident people. Always remember to pray, put our faith in Him, and the rest will follow.
