Prayers & hopeful thoughts for DCs waking up to exam results tomorrow

[Bronwen11]

Prayers, loving, hopeful thoughts for all our DCs, indeed DCs everywhere, who will wake up to A/AS level results tomorrow and, in a week's time, to GCSE results. Or, of course, any other public examination.

For students who do well or better than they expected - well done! For students who are disappointed by their results - don't give up, don't despair, this is a temporary set back!

May they all be encouraged, blessed, and excited - they're young and have a lifetime of learning ahead of them.

Holding all our DCs awaiting results in my prayers right now. And their mums and dads!

[EastMidsMummy]

I am curious about prayer. Do you believe that it 'works'? i.e. do you think that because you pray about it that the results of their exams, or their attitude to their exams will be altered from how they would be if you didn't pray?

[Bronwen11]

Oh no - not at all! Results won't change. I was thinking of the impact that exam results have on students and how distressing poor results, especially if they are unexpected, can be. And, I suppose, of my own DC who is anxious. I want him to know that whatever happens, he'll be supported and will be OK.

[EastMidsMummy]

And can I ask how your prayer affects his anxiety? Does he need to know that you're doing it? If my daughter, who has GCSE results coming, was anxious, and you prayed for her, would she be less anxious?

[FaithLoveandHope]

Praying alongside you Bronwen I know a few people picking ups results this morning and next week. Agree with every word you said in your first post. Praying God calms my particularly anxious friend who sat his a levels later in life.

[EastMidsMummy]

FaithLoveandHope, is the friend who is comforted by prayer the one doing tbe praying or someone else?

[FaithLoveandHope]

Bronwen how did your DC do?

East that's a good question and for me it depends on the situation. If I was praying for myself, then it would help the prayer (i.e. me). If on the other hand I was praying for someone else, I honestly believe it helps the person being prayed for. In terms of whether the person needs to know you're praying for them, I take great comfort in knowing people are praying for me and I know many of my friends have felt positively uplifted by knowing people are praying for them. Equally though, I have seen people being prayed for without their knowledge who have been comforted in their times of trouble.

[EastMidsMummy]

Thanks for explaining. So, in the case of people who don't know you're praying for them, do you think God is providing them with extra comfort than they wouldn't normally have?

[fourtothedozen]

For an exam to be an effective measurement of performance some students have to fail.
Otherwise it would not be an effective test. It is unfortunate for those students who do fail, but to have everyone pass would mean the bar is set too low.

In praying for selected students you are hoping for more favourable outcomes and dooming another student.

Not very christian.

[FaithLoveandHope]

four nobody said about praying for the outcome, as Bronwen has said, praying will absolutely not change the result. But rather we pray for the ability of that person to deal with whatever the outcome may be.

[FaithLoveandHope]

four nobody said about praying for the outcome, as Bronwen has said, praying will absolutely not change the result. But rather we pray for the ability of that person to deal with whatever the outcome may be.

[FaithLoveandHope]

four nobody said about praying for the outcome, as Bronwen has said, praying will absolutely not change the result. But rather we pray for the ability of that person to deal with whatever the outcome may be.

[EastMidsMummy]

So, Faith, when Bronwen prays for children to be able to deal with their exams, do you think those children will feel more comfort than if she hadn't prayed? (Does it work, in that sense?)

[FaithLoveandHope]

Apologies, I don't know what happened there and why it posted my message three times.

East as we've already said, yes we think it does help otherwise we wouldn't do it. Have you thought about starting a thread to specifically ask about prayers? I think it would be far easier to involve other people in the discussion and get a broader range of opinions if you started a specific thread about it.

[EastMidsMummy]

That's a good idea, Faith. Sorry for jumping on this one.

I guess what I find confusing is, why wouldn't God want everyone to be comforted, whether or not they've been prayed for? If a child has no-one to pray for them, is God doling out less comfort than for a child who does? That doesn't sound right at all, but would be the outcome if your prayers are working.

[Bronwen11]

Sorry - I'm just catching up with this thread.

FTH - thank you. DC got into his first choice uni - slightly disappointed in a couple of grades but, nevertheless, he got the place that he wanted and what a relief that was.

How did your friend do?

East - taking up your last post. I agree with what's behind your question. Why wouldn't God want every child, every young person to not be anxious or fearful about the future? I strongly believe that he does.

My prayers weren't confined to my DCs - not at all. I don't know if my prayers 'work'. I believe, though, that God listens and that prayer is where hope is lifted. But I make no great claims for it in the sense of prayers 'working'. I can't. However, when I share my thoughts, worries, desires, dreams with God, I feel listened to and really sometimes, for me, that's enough. I find that quite liberating in itself. And I draw some comfort and encouragement from the fact that, as part of this fragile world, I'm being held up in prayer by people who I'll never meet.

I agree with FTH. A thread where you post these questions is worth thinking about.

[Bronwen11]

Sorry, FaithLoveandHope - I referred to you as FTH! Mentally, I'd substituted Love for Trust which makes sense except that I was inaccurate! Been a long day at work!