Let’s face it, we've all had academic challenges.

Like maybe you received a bad grade… It could have been an F, or even your first B... ever. Either way, it can be a blow. Or maybe your GPA was so low that you lost your scholarship or ended up on academic probation. However dire the situation may seem, the problem is compounded when we let those mistakes define who we are and cause us to doubt our worth, or start asking questions like, “What’s wrong with me?” and, “Do I belong here?” Rest assured, it wasn’t a mix-up in admissions that got you in. The truth is, God doesn’t make mistakes, and He has us right where we are for a reason. Remember:

“He [God] loves us and knows us by name. There is a purpose for each one of us.” (excerpt from “Learning to Walk Closer with the Lord,” by Pastor Chester C. Pipkin Jr.)

We can’t let academic struggles cause us to question our value as people. Whether we realize it or not, everyone struggles sometimes. Many of the people around us deal with self-doubt and low self-esteem, yet somehow, we can still feel like we’re the only ones. It is essential that we don’t give in to believing those feelings of inferiority, but instead hold on to what the Word of God says:

...Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. - Matthew 10:29-31 NLT

The words from a familiar song are a good reminder for all of us:

"Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. We are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me!"

No grade can ever give us reassurance as strong as that.