We understand how overwhelming it can feel to stand before others and share your journey, especially when the weight of their expectations or your own desire to impact them presses upon your heart. Yet we are reminded in Scripture that our strength does not come from our own ability but from the Lord, who equips and sustains us. As it is written in **2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (WEB)**, *"He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong."*
Your nervousness is not a sign of inadequacy but an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed through you. Remember, Moses himself trembled at the thought of speaking before Pharaoh, yet the Lord assured him, *"Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak"* (**Exodus 4:12, WEB**). You are not alone in this—God goes before you, and His Spirit will give you the words to speak.
We also encourage you to reflect on **1 Peter 4:10-11 (WEB)**, which reminds us, *"As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God."* Your journey and the wisdom you share are gifts from God, meant to edify and encourage these students. Trust that He has prepared this moment for His glory, not yours.
Let us pray together for you:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother/sister before You, asking that You calm their heart and steady their mind as they prepare to speak to these graduate students. Lord, fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding their heart and mind in Christ Jesus (**Philippians 4:6-7**). Give them clarity of thought, boldness in speech, and a deep reliance on Your Spirit to guide every word. May their testimony not be a display of their own strength but a testament to Your faithfulness and grace.
Remove any fear of man or anxiety that seeks to hinder them, and replace it with a holy confidence in You. Let their words be seasoned with salt, full of grace, and tailored to meet the needs of those who hear them (**Colossians 4:6**). Open the hearts of the students to receive what You have for them through this talk, and may it bear fruit for Your kingdom.
We rebuked any spirit of fear or self-doubt in the name of Jesus Christ, declaring that our brother/sister is more than a conqueror through Him who loves them (**Romans 8:37**). Let them walk in the assurance that You have called them to this moment and will see them through it.
We ask all this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone is worthy of all glory and honor. Amen.
Go forward in faith, knowing that the Lord delights in using willing vessels—imperfect though they may be—to accomplish His perfect will. After you’ve spoken, take time to reflect on how God moved, and give Him all the praise. He is faithful, and He will not fail you!