Tests of Weakness

I think the tests we face in life that reveal the most about our true character are not tests of our strengths but tests of our weakness. Due to genetics, or upbringing, or past traumas or bad decisions, we are uniquely vulnerable to certain situations or environments. Our weakness means that we can’t approach certain things in the same way that everybody else does, because it will affect us differently than it would them. But tests of our weakness are not necessarily tests of our willpower or our grit. The point of testing our weakness isn’t to make us feel bad that we are not as strong as everyone else seems to be. The point of testing our weaknesses is to encourage us to humble ourselves and reach out to God, reach out to our family and friends, to get creative, get smart, get prepared. We’re not supposed to be strong enough to overcome tests of our weakness on our own. Tests of our weakness allow us to respect our limitations and teach us the value of leaning on others when our own strength has failed. To quote Dr. Erskine from Captain America: The First Avenger, “A strong man, who has known power all his life, will lose respect for that power. But a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows compassion.”