Dear Susie,

In your letter, you say you do not have peace because youwant to get into a certain summer program for next year, and you need to havegood grades, but you cannot get them good enough fast enough because of the wayyou acted in study in the early part of the semester.

Now, sometimes God is gracious and allows you to have whatyou want anyhow; however, along with forgiveness, there are permanentconsequences of sin that we have to live with. So you can have peacewhether you get good grades or not.

You should study hard in accordance with Colossians 3:23 andColossians 3:17.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as workingfor the Lord, not for human masters” (Col. 3:23).

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all inthe name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col.3:17).

God will give you peace whether you get what you wish or donot get what you wish. Consider Philippians 4:4-7.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Letyour gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious aboutanything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends allunderstanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Your peace should not be dependent upon the grades you getor the program you get. Your peace should be dependent upon your walking in thelight, and you can have that kind of peace.

In His love,

Jim Wilson

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships