Five things you might be feeling on results day

Results day rolls around every year - with short strings of letters changing lives, causing celebration, or dividing households. As Christians, we know that our feelings are a God-given part of who we are - even if they are often complex. As Christians, we also know that the Bible speaks to every part of our lives, whether it's the elation we show to the world or the disappointment we try to hide from those around us.

So, in no particular order, here are five things you (or someone you love!) might be feeling this results day, and a nudge from the Bible about how to think about it, as well as at least one book recommendation.

1. Joyful

Maybe it's all gone to plan! Perhaps you've got the grades you need, the ones you wanted, the ones you only dared hope to recieve. 

To those who are feeling joyful - whether because of good results, or because the results they've got don't affect what's going on, the Apostle Paul's words in Romans 12:15 are always relevant:

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn"

Joy is a great place to start - and a great place to go next, whether you are rejoicing or mourning, is gratitude. Peter Maiden's final book - written whilst he was dying of cancer - challenges us, no matter what this day or the next brings, to lean into gratitude, to enjoy God as the great giver. Find out more about Radical Gratitude here.

2. Anxious

Maybe your results haven't come yet. Maybe there's been a problem, or you are requesting an appeal. What about your friends? What about the future? Even good results can make us anxious, as we step out into the unknown. There's a famous Bible verse, 1 Peter 5:7, which is a challenge to do something with our worries:

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you"

The Bible doesn't just give us reassurance - here we are invited to literally throw ourselves, trouble and all, at God. Practically, though, you might wonder what that looks like. A great place to start, with loads of practical tips, is Will Van Der Hart and Rob Waller's book on the topic. The Worry Book does just what the title suggests - and is perfect for processing the worries and anxieties that can come up on a day like this.

3. Inadequate

Have you ever felt like you didn't deserve something? Or that you've accidentally tricked the exam boards, and thus are a bit of a fraud? Sometimes, success makes us feel inadequate. 

The Bible challenges our view of ourselves. Whether we are arrogant or feeling inadequate, the message is the same. In Psalm 8 we are reminded of the amazing truth of what it means to be human - no matter our results. Psalm 8:4-5 reads like this:

"What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honour"

You might feel inadequate, but that isn't how you always have to feel. In MORE>Real, Jon Brown shares "about my phone addiction, my failed six-pack attempt and the time I gave up on my faith". Or, if you are looking for an even shorter read, that you could give away to your friends, Martin Salter's new So Loved is a brilliant unpacking of the most famous Bible verse in the world.

4. Scared

Maybe you've got the results you wanted. Everyone around you is delighted. Cheering you on. But you feel something else. Scared.

Fair enough. 

Perhaps you don't know where you are going. Perhaps the results you got mean that the future is less clear than you were hoping.

Fair enough.

The story of Moses is, in part, the story of someone whose life didn't go according to his plan. Most of us won't have committed murder, run away from home, and hidden in a desert. 

In Exodus 4:13, Moses says 'Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else'. He's scared. And with good reason. If you are scared - and that would be fair enough - then digging in to the story of Moses might be an encouragement. One great place to start is with Terry Virgo's new book God's Treasured Possession - an invitation to walk in the footsteps of Moses. 

5. Directionless

Perhaps results day is confusing. Perhaps you don't know where to go next. Perhaps you do, but you wonder if what you are planning to do, or where you are planning to go, or what you are planning to study, is just selfishness on your part. Being directionless can challenge us even when we think we know what comes next. The words of Proverbs 3:6 make a point well in the KJV:

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths"

We all go in all sorts of different directions, every day. Proverbs reminds us to honour and worship God, whatever we are doing - with the reassuring promise that He will show us where to go. That sounds good, but how can we work that out in practice? Well, for our final pair of recommendations, why not check out MORE>Direction by Ruth and Ayo Afolabi, or The Selfish Gospel by Freddie Pimm. The Afolabis offer inspiration and encouragement about where to go in life, whilst Freddie's book will help you think through what God thinks about what you get up to next.

You'll find all the books mentioned above featured below, too. If you are heading to university, don't forget to connect with UCCF!