Mary

First of all, I want to acknowledge that I am unworthy and undeserving to even call upon the name of the Lord — but I did, and He answered me. So I say to you, dear believers, pray. He will answer you, even in your sin and shortcomings, just as He has shown us through the story of the prodigal son.

I wrote my exams recently, but I must confess, I was unserious throughout the semester. I barely studied, often starting just a few days or even hours before each paper. Because of this lack of preparation, I knew I was not in a good place academically. Though I tried my best in those last-minute efforts, it was nowhere near what I could have achieved with proper planning and commitment.

As a result of this negligence, I feared I had failed. I couldn't afford to fail. I came before Abba Father in prayer, even as a sinner — a very unworthy one. You see, this wasn’t my first time. I had been in similar situations twice before, made promises to God, and then turned my back on Him the moment things got better. He helped me before, gave me results beyond what I deserved, and yet, I stopped praying as soon as I succeeded. That’s why I say I’m unworthy.

But, even in that place of guilt, I came back to Him — broken, ashamed, and hopeless. And still, He welcomed me with open arms. He heard me. He comforted me. He accepted me back. Just as He said in Psalm 91:15, “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” That’s exactly what He did for me.

He proved to me again that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved and sustained. He reminded me that with man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. I called on Him, and He lifted me. No carryovers. No failures.

In fact, my GPA increased! I can’t explain how it happened. I don’t know how He did it. But He did it. And now, I hold on to this truth from Psalm 27:13-14, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

To the only wise God, our Savior — be glory, honor, majesty, power, adoration, and dominion, now and forevermore. Amen.