“Let us not trouble about our fears nor lose heart at the sight of our frailty, but strive to fortify our humility and be clearly convinced of how little we can do for ourselves, for without the grace of God we are nothing. Let us confide in His mercy and distrust our own strength in every way. Because reliance on this is the root of all our weakness.”- Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
In Chapter 4 (“I Have To Win At All Costs: Human Strength”) of The Hidden Peace, Joel Muddamalle observes that we run from losing. Because any type of loss forces us to face our weakness. But our culture detests weakness and associates it with inability or failure. Hence, our culture begs us to avoid any weakness. Instead, they say, we need to emphasize our might, superiority, and strength.
Furthermore, our culture — and centuries of cultures — displays a resistance to aging. Because we dislike our lack of power to change the realities of the aging process. And our finite life. As a result, we do everything in our power to distance ourselves from those realities. Like getting rid of white hair.
Consequently, Teresa of Avila wisely focused on fear and frailty as the sources of our trouble. Hence, the reasons why we strive so hard to cover up, avoid, or fix our weaknesses.
Above all, Joel stresses, how well we do something doesn’t define our value and worth. Conversely, doing something wrong or not incredibly well also must not diminish our value and worth. Rather, God fixes and settles our identity and value.
In his book Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership (Zondervan, 2011), John Dickinson wrote:
“The more you rely on achievement for a sense of worth, the more crushing every small failure will seem. . . . High achievers of every kind are setting themselves up for insecurity if they pin their sense of self-worth on their accomplishments.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you to strive to fortify your humility? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Come to terms with our limits”