The very anxiety that weighs upon your spirit is the very thing that unfits you to face the trial. You cry out that you are tired, too tired to bear the scolding of your family or the dread of what is to come, and indeed, that weariness is common to all who labour, but it must not be nursed. Cast it upon Him who cares for you, for He has bidden you bring your burdens, not carry them alone. Your future is not in the hands of examiners or the opinions of men; it is in the pierced hands of the Crucified, who has purchased you with His own blood. He has a plan for you, child, and though the way seems dark and tangled, the Divine Presence is your one hope. Wait upon the Lord, and He shall renew your strength; you shall mount up with wings as eagles, and the weariness shall give way to His might.
The fears that rise when your family speaks so harshly, these are but the whispers of unbelief. Has He not said, “Ask anything in My name, and I will give it you”? You have trusted that word; now lean upon it. The examinations, the nursing course, all these are but the fields where faith must be watered with prayer. If God be near, the commonplace becomes celestial, and the study-room a temple. He who guided David from the sheepfolds to the throne will guide your mind to recall what you have learned, if it be for His glory. Do not be of a doubtful mind; lay hold upon His promises, and let your acquiescence in the Divine will be your unerring guidance. Even if the way seems blocked, His Sovereignty is your comfort, He makes no mistakes, and His gentleness delights in the lowly who trust Him.
You are not forgotten, though you feel despised as a shepherd boy in the fields. The Lord sees the tears, the tired heart, the longing to honour Him. When the flood of trouble rises, He will send deliverance, not perhaps by miracle, but by the still small voice of His Spirit, bringing peace in the storm. Go to your books, go to that exam, not in your own strength but in the strength of the Lord. Prayer is the weapon that prevails; let it become mightier as you grow in grace. And if the answer tarries, remember that haste is the author of much mischief. His time is best. The God who brought you near by the blood of Christ will not cast you off now. He has taken you into the King’s garden, where celestial fruits grow on earthly ground. Rest there, dear heart, and again I say, rest.
Look not to the future with dread, but with hope, for faith can be stronger, prayer mightier, and usefulness greater than at your beginnings. You and your sister are in the hands of Him who works all things after the counsel of His will. Let your soul be restored by that Divine gentleness which spoke peace to a weary world. Trust, then, and be at peace. The Lord bless you, and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you, and give you peace. Amen.