The fall season is always a busy time in our home. With three kids in school, after-school activities keep us constantly on the move—marching band for one, soccer for another, and choir plus the newspaper club for the third. It’s a beautiful chaos, but it can also be overwhelming. This year, however, brought an unexpected challenge for our 11th grader.
As a junior in high school, she is preparing for college, and no one told her that this would probably be one of the hardest academic years of her life. Known for being a high-honor-roll student, she started the year expecting to continue her excellent track record. But taking multiple AP classes and balancing her heavy load of after-school activities turned out to be more challenging than she ever imagined.
It was the first time she felt truly tested—not just academically but spiritually. The stress was mounting, and when she brought home her first “D,” she felt defeated, as if the world was falling apart. No matter how hard she studied, the grades didn’t seem to budge, and doubt began to creep in. She started to question herself and even her faith.
Turning to God in Weakness
As her parents, we encouraged her to lean on God like never before. We reminded her of the scripture from 2 Corinthians 12:9:
"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’"
We told her that this was her moment to trust God to step in and provide the strength she needed. She couldn’t do it on her own, but God could. We prayed with her daily, asking God to give her wisdom and to activate the Holy Spirit in her life.
We told her: “Do your part. Study hard, do your best, and then lay it at God’s feet. Tell Him, ‘Lord, I am weak, but I trust You to be my strength.’” With every test, she prayed. She asked the Holy Spirit to guide her and give her wisdom. Yet, the scores didn’t improve right away. But we didn’t stop praying, and we encouraged her to keep believing.
A Testimony of God's Faithfulness
One morning, as she prepared for a particularly difficult test, we prayed together in the car on the way to school. Her 6-year-old brother, with his childlike faith and big heart, joined us in prayer. We asked God to give her wisdom, clarity, and peace as she faced the challenge ahead.
As we wrapped up, he added, “And don’t forget to say, ‘Holy Spirit, activate!’ before you start your test.” His simple, confident declaration brought a smile to her face and a sense of calm to all of us.
When she walked into class that day, she prayed with a new sense of peace and trust. She said, “Holy Spirit, activate. Help me to retain what I’ve studied. Give me wisdom and clarity.” That prayer, combined with her hard work, became a turning point.
When she came home that even , she looked ecstatic. I asked her how it went, and she said, “It was awesome! I think I did well.” A few days later, she found out her score—a 95! She was overjoyed, and so were we. It was a beautiful reminder of how God works when we trust Him fully. She said, “I prayed for God to show His strength in my weakness, and He did!”
Though she still has work to do to bring her grades back up in this class, she now knows she’s not in this alone. She’s relying on God’s strength and the Holy Spirit to guide her every step of the way.
A Word of Encouragement
Friends, don’t ever give up. Whether you’re struggling with work, school, health, or even mental battles like anxiety or fear, know this: in your weakness, God’s strength is made perfect. You don’t have to do it alone. Call on Him, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Remember the promise of Isaiah 40:29-31:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Whatever you’re facing today, trust that God is with you. Pray, work hard, and believe. When you feel like giving up, remember: His grace is sufficient, and His strength will carry you through.
Keep pressing forward. God’s strength is always enough.
