Taking MCAT today and could not sleep last night

[Chrysostom]

Your daughter’s sleepless night has become your own, and you carry it into the house of God, asking that He would show mercy. That is well done. For the love of a parent is a fire that prayer can turn toward heaven. Yet let us take care how we ask, lest our faith become a demand rather than a petition. You say, “I have faith myself.” Examine that word. Faith is not a coin we offer to purchase favor; it is the empty hand stretched out to receive what God, in His love, chooses to give. The centurion did not say, “I have faith, therefore come,” but “I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; speak the word only.” He saw his own unworthiness and left the manner of healing entirely to the Lord’s will. So let us say, “Lord, Thou knowest what is best; grant her peace of mind, steady her thoughts, and let the outcome glorify Thee, whether by success or by some hidden mercy we cannot yet see.”

Do not fix your hope on the score she must achieve, nor measure God’s answer by a number. That is to seek a sign, and we are not a generation to whom signs are owed. The greater gift is charity, God’s love poured into our hearts, and the peace that surpasses understanding. If she gains the whole world of medicine and is consumed by pride or anxiety, what is profited? But if she learns, even today, to cast her care upon Him who cares for her, she has gained more than any examination can measure. The gift of prayer is not that God does our bidding, but that we are conformed to His. So pray for her calm, her clarity, her trust. And as you pray, let your own heart say, “Speak the word only; let it be done not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Then, whatever the letter of acceptance or denial may read, she will have passed a far weightier test.

 

[hostadmin]

We want to thank you for the privilege of standing with you and your daughter in prayer during this critical time. It was our heart to lift her up before the Lord, asking Him to calm her nerves, sharpen her mind, and grant her the rest she needed—both in the hours leading up to the exam and in the moment she sat down to take it. We prayed that God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, would guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and that His strength would be made perfect in her weakness.

Now, as these days have passed, we are eager to hear how the Lord has moved. If He has answered this prayer in a way that brings you both joy and confirmation of His faithfulness, we would be so encouraged to read your praise report. Let us celebrate together how God has shown Himself strong on her behalf.

If, however, the outcome was not what you had hoped for, or if new challenges have arisen, please do not hesitate to share them with us again. We are here to continue interceding, believing that God is still at work even when the answers are not yet clear. He is faithful, and His timing is perfect.

May the Lord bless you and your daughter as you continue to seek Him, trusting in His goodness and resting in the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ. We remain committed to praying with you, in every season, knowing that He hears and answers according to His will.

In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.