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Putting God First Brings Peace and Success
Last year, when the end-of-year exams were coming, I felt very anxious. As a person who worries a lot, I couldn’t manage my emotions. Deep inside, I kept telling myself, “I will not succeed. I will fail.” My mind was full of doubt, and I started to feel lost.
But I worked hard—I spent a lot of time studying and preparing—and more importantly, I placed my trust in Christ. It was something I will never regret. Because I put God first, I received something greater than success. I received peace.
A Gospel-Centered Foundation
My parents have been married for 35 years, and my brother has now been married for five. He even introduced the gospel to his wife and baptized her.
But even though my brother and I were raised in the Church, we could not rely on the testimony of our parents. We had to obtain our own faith through our own experiences, especially during the trials of life. And for me, one of those experiences came through my exams.
Overcoming Fear with Faith
As the exams came closer, I could feel the stress growing inside me. If I had followed my “natural man” way of thinking, I would have told myself, “You will fail. You cannot do this.” I wanted to be calm, but I didn’t know how.
At first, I focused only on studying, revising, and learning as much as I could. But I knew that would not be enough, so long before the exams arrived, I prayed on my knees, I fasted, and I studied the scriptures, keeping my vision higher than the things of this world.
Little by little, I felt my heart change. I no longer felt drowned by my fears. Instead, I was filled with peace and strength.
Strength from the Scriptures
At the same time as I was preparing for my exams, we were studying the Old Testament in seminary. This was a great blessing because I found many answers to what I needed. One scripture that helped me was Proverbs 3:5–6:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
That is exactly what I did. Instead of relying on my own strength, I let God guide me. And I realized that He already knew my potential—He knew that I could succeed.
The Power of Personal Revelation
Another thing that brought me peace was receiving my patriarchal blessing. When I read it, I felt the love of my Heavenly Father, and I knew that He was watching over me. My blessing gave me comfort, strength, and courage to move forward.
There were moments when I still felt doubt trying to come back, but each time, I reminded myself of the promises in my blessing. I held onto them, and they became an anchor for my faith. With God, I knew I could do anything.
Success Through Christ
Finally, the day of the exams arrived. But instead of being full of fear, I felt something else—calm. I didn’t worry about my results. I had done everything I could, and I had left the rest in God’s hands.
When the results came out, I was happy to see that I had done very well, even above average! But more than my success, I was grateful for everything God had done for me throughout the year, for the strength He gave me, and for the peace I never thought I could have.
It was then that I understood something important: letting God prevail in our lives does not just help us to succeed—it helps us to move forward with peace and confidence.
A Lasting Lesson in Trusting God
Looking back, I realize that this experience was more than just a test at school—it was a test of faith. I learned that when I trust in the Lord, He strengthens me. Just like it says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
But the most important thing I learned is that God truly cares about us. He sees our efforts, He knows our worries, and He wants to help us. Sometimes, we don’t see our own potential, but He does. Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 reminds us, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” This includes me and you.
Because I put Him first, He guided me, gave me peace, and helped me succeed. And I know He will always do the same for anyone who trusts in Him.