Life Has an Answer Key

Ever feel like you’re just so lost? That life is too complicated—too stressful?

That’s me a lot. I don’t understand how I’m supposed to be the person God wants me to be when there’s just so much pain, so many mistakes…. I feel like I can never do it right.

It would be nice to have an answer key. Something that gives you all the answers. A formula sheet—so I don’t have to guess.

In math class, my teacher would teach us the lesson, we’d practice, and then she’d give us the test. And most times, we’d receive a yellow paper with the formulas we needed on the test.

Like this one:

(a^m)(aⁿ) = a^m+n

And when you compare that to other areas of life, math formulas seem so simple. You don’t overcomplicate it—you just stick the problem into the correct formula and solve the equation.

Unfortunately, life does not fit into a formula. When you have a problem, oftentimes it doesn’t work to fit it into a neat little formula and figure out the answer.

But I believe we are living in a test. God is the ultimate teacher, we are His students. It’s up to us to get these answers right.

And guess what? We even have an answer key. God didn’t throw us into this whole life thing with a “good luck.” No. He wrote us a very detailed answer key, which you might have guessed is the Bible. The Bible has what we need to point us to Him.

We study the Bible in order to learn about our Teacher and to learn how He wants us to live.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5

That verse is the equivalent to opening up your textbook to study for a stressful exam, and then seeing a sidenote saying, “If you’re struggling to understand this module, don’t hesitate to ask your teacher for assistance and she’ll be with you right away.”

I can’t even imagine how relieving that would be. Yet, the Bible clearly tells us that if we’re in need of wisdom—when we don’t know which way to go, what decision to make—we ask, and He’s at our side, guiding us.

And although our Teacher is more than willing to help us, it’s so important to ask. Or just talk to Him. Have a relationship with the Teacher, because that is important.

Students that are engaging with the class, asking questions, and showing up to study will probably have a better understanding.

We need to focus on being present. We’re able to spend time in the Bible, and because of Jesus Christ, we’re able to communicate with the Father without going through a priest.

And do you wanna hear the best part?

This is an open-book test.

Friends, we don’t have to feel the stress that comes with the laborious study of exams. No, in fact, we can be at peace knowing answers are in the Bible and our Teacher is at our side.

What is Jesus trying to teach you today?