“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.” Isaiah 40:31

There are so many situations in life that can feel overwhelming, dauting, and hopeless. For me, this usually happens when I’m overcommitted, when I feel a sense of fear or dread, or when a task or objective is so out of reach that it feels futile to even try, because I’ll never succeed. 

I remember feeling this way when studying for the bar exam. After graduating from law school, I left my apartment in May and moved home for the summer with no job and a big, huge exam staring me in the face at the end of July. Even though I’d done well in law school, this exam included several areas of law that I hadn’t taken classes in and was now forced to learn in less than eight weeks. I’d heard the statistics and was doing my best to follow the recommended 400-600 hours of study needed to pass. Even though it was a privilege to have so much time to study, it felt like such a dauting task.  

I settled into a routine. Each day, I attended class and spent hours reviewing materials, taking multiple choice tests, and writing essays. My mom kindly made me lunch every day and made me take lunch breaks even when I didn’t want to and would try and “make conversation” by asking about what I was learning, even when I was grumpy and non-communicative. It must have been frustrating for her, but she took it on as a challenge! As the days and weeks ticked by, the pit in my stomach became more noticeable and my passing thoughts became more fixed, “What if all this work led to nothing… what if I didn’t pass the exam?” It wasn’t as though I could start my legal career without this requisite. I had to pass the bar exam to practice law. But my growing sense of fear and dread shook my confidence. 

My mom kept telling me to remember “The Little Engine That Could” and would chant lovingly, “I think I can, I think I can!” with a smile. As it turns out, she was onto something. That hopeful mantra helped and got me thinking. Surrendering our fear and putting our energy into trusting God is not easy, especially when we feel hopeless and afraid. This Bible verse comforts me when times get tough. Even if I don’t know what to say or do, it helps to know that I am not alone, and that God is there for me and will give me strength when I feel overwhelmed.

The worst part of the bar exam experience is that candidates must wait nearly three months to get results. By October, I was applying for jobs and had traveled to Norway. I was surprised to get a phone call in the middle of the night from my mom telling me that I had passed the bar exam! I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and I told her that she had played a big part in my success! Despite losing my dear mom two and a half years ago to cancer, her words still inspire me and give me peace as I find myself repeating them to my kids when they are facing a challenge and need a little extra love!   

Prayer: Dear God, Give us strength in times of trial and help us to remember that we are not alone. Help us to guide and support one another and give each other a sense of hope and peace as we cheer each other on to overcome obstacles, achieve our greatest desires, and live out our dreams for the future. Amen.