WHEN THE PRESSURE PEAKS: Holding on to What Matters Most in Testing Season

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Testing season has a way of bringing a unique kind of pressure. Even when we remind ourselves, “It’s just a test,” the weight of expectations still lingers. We know there is so much more to our students than a score and so much more to teaching than a data point. Yet the pressure to meet certain benchmarks remains very real.

Deep down we know testing itself is not the problem. Standards matter as do high expectations. We all understand and accept this. We also know giving our best matters too. Scripture reminds us in Colossians 3:23 to work as if we are working for the Lord, and that charge shapes how we approach our classrooms each day, even during testing. 

The tension around testing often comes from how much is riding on one moment—a snapshot in time that rarely captures the complete picture. If you have been in schools for any length of time, you know there is always more to the story.

• Some classrooms experience unexpected disruptions, such as a teacher leaving midyear.

• Some students carry the weight of frequent absences or challenging circumstances at home.

• Other children arrive midyear with gaps in learning or English proficiency.

The needs are significant, but the testing calendar continues forward. How do we stay grounded and calm without becoming overwhelmed by frustration or worry?

Seeking Strength

During a recent time in Scripture, I read the following two verses within minutes of each other, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude that David penned these words. I pray they encourage your heart as much as they did mine. 

“You are our glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong.” (Psalm 89:17)

“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” (Psalm 105:4)

The moment I read the word seek, I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6. So I took a quick side trip in Scripture, and I am so glad I did. 

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:31–33)

Reading these passages together brought a sense of clarity. The call to seek the Lord is closely connected to the command not to worry. We are called to trust in His strength and rest in the promise that He will provide all we need. I recognize testing season often stirs up worries that are difficult to ignore. What if the results are not where they need to be? What if all the effort does not show up in the data? While these questions are real, God’s Word gently redirects our focus. The responsibility given to us is to seek the Lord, live faithfully, and do the absolute best we can in every situation. God’s promise is that He will provide what we need. There is something deeply freeing in that truth.

Many aspects of education remain outside of our control. We simply can’t control every outcome even though we may try. There comes a point when we have to say, “I have done everything the Lord has asked of me.”  From this place we can rest, not in results but in His strength.

The Curriculum Beneath the Curriculum

If you are a Christian educator, I have no doubt that you see working with children as a ministry and a calling.  You know it isn’t just about the academics though that is important. There is an underlying curriculum being taught every single day, one that will never be measured by a test score. This curriculum can change lives beyond our wildest imagination. Every single day we teach…

• how patience is lived out.

• how kindness is extended.

• how gentleness is practiced.

• how self-control is modeled.

We teach this curriculum not just through our words but through our lives. When we take Jesus to school, our students experience something deeper – “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). This is the curriculum that shapes hearts. This is the curriculum that lasts.

Staying Connected to the Source of Strength

Testing season has a way of testing more than just students. Emotions can run high, and it often feels like everything that could go wrong does. In moments like these, displaying the fruit of the Spirit can feel especially challenging – and it is! However, it is not only possible but doable if we heed Jesus’s words.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15:8)

When you remain connected to the Vine and continue to seek the Lord and His strength, you will notice something subtle but significant. The underlying curriculum—the one that matters most—will take root in your students. It may show up in small moments, in shifting attitudes, and in the way they begin to respond to one another, but it will become evident. This kind of growth does not come from a lesson plan or test results; it comes from the consistent presence of Christ lived out in you each day.

A Final Encouragement for This Season

I realize that testing season has a way of wearing on you, even when you try to stay positive. There is a weight that comes with wanting your students to succeed so badly, while also knowing how much is outside of your control. I want you to hear this clearly.

You are not defined by a score. Your students are not defined by a score. You are doing work that matters more than you will ever fully see on a data report.

There will come a moment when the tests are over and the numbers come in. Some results will encourage you, and some may not. In that moment it is so important to come back to what is true.

• Have you been faithful with what God has placed in front of you?

• Have you loved your students and/or teachers well?

• Have you done your work as unto the Lord?

If the answer is yes, then you can take a deep breath and relax. You can rest not because everything is perfect but because your strength was never meant to come from the results. Your strength comes from the Lord.

As you walk into your schools and classrooms, remind yourself where your focus belongs. Seek Him first. Stay connected to the Vine. Let His strength carry you through the moments that feel heavy. Your students and teachers need more than your instruction or leadership right now. They need your presence. They need your patience. They need to see the fruit of the Spirit lived out in real time. That is the work that lasts. This season may feel intense, but it is also full of purpose. What you are doing matters more than a test could ever measure.

I love you, Lord;    

you are my strength.

Psalm 18:1

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