This question brings back interesting memories from my secondary school and college days. Despite foreknowing class test days and preparing ahead, we dreaded the moment the question papers would be distributed:
What if I don’t know the answers?
What if I didn’t read the area the questions are drawn from?
All those sorts of questions went ahead to freeze my memory and sometimes my head became as blank as a plain canvass when the moment of truth arrived.
Why The Test?
Even though we disliked taking tests in school, in hindsight, the tests were actually good for us and the teachers. For us, it reflected the level of our understanding of the subjects and gave us the opportunity to move to the next class – a higher level. For the teachers, it reflected which areas they needed to improve on – method or content.
With these exams you didn’t need to remember everything you read but it was important you understood the principle and applied it.
This is the same in life. Life unfolds in moments, not in days and years. Everything you have learnt, experienced or are experiencing is geared towards moving you to the next phase in life. I wish I could tell you that you would not face tests or trials in life if you did everything required of you rightly. Truth is, you cannot pray that your faith or resolution would not be tested. It’s like a student praying not to take the promotion exam and then expect to be promoted to the next class. In life, you must pass certain tests and trials to move to new levels. You are equipped for the test you are facing, or about to face, though it does not always feel so.
One of the differences between life tests and school tests is the grading and award system. In life, you don’t get distinctions or first class grades; rather you are expected to learn, understand and apply the lessons you learn.
Everyone is expected to go through and learn something. If you can demonstrate that you have learnt a lesson and are ready to apply it, you will move to the next phase and repeat the process all over again in the next phase. It is an unending cycle that can be painful but gainful. All life’s experiences are equipped to teach different life modules.
When is the Test?
Unfortunately, in life, most tests are impromptu except you are in tune with what’s happening around you and you understand your season. There is no fixed duration for these tests. Your attitude determines how long it lasts for. A clear understanding of your season will make the days count.
I encourage you to embrace your tests. They’re working for you, not against you.
