By Sister Teresa Christine, O.C.D.
There’s a principle in spiritual discernment that the enemy will attack us at the weakest place in the armor, where He sees we may be most likely to fall. He’s a cunning enemy who will never stop trying to bring us down as long as we live. He mocks us in our weakness, and he lies to us: “this sin … it’s actually just who you are, it’s your identity, and you will never be free. Just give in, just give up.” If we listen to his lies, he will lure us into discouragement, and eventually despair.
But the enemy is not the only one at work: God is infinitely more powerful. He is also particularly interested in those same places of weakness, but for another reason. As He said to St. Paul, “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God is approaching those same places of weakness in us, because those are the spots where He wants to show His glory. The places of our greatest struggle are the exact places God wants to strengthen and equip us to make the greatest impact for the Kingdom.
It’s the story of all the Saints: Mary Magdalene went from impurity to a radiant purity. St. Peter, who struggled with pride, died upside down on a cross in humility. Often the Saints struggled the most in the virtues they became most known for.
Wherever we are wounded by our own sins or the sins of others – that’s exactly the place God is waiting to manifest a glorious testament of His power. If seen in this way, we can turn the temptations and attacks of the enemy to our advantage: wherever the enemy is focusing his attention, think of this as a spotlight thrown on the place where God’s gifts lie. Put another way: on the other side of the wound is the glory. Where you struggle today could be the place of glory tomorrow. Nothing is outside of God’s power; He can bring a greater good on the other side of the struggle. We simply must not give up; we can’t lose heart.
The enemy will try to make you identify with your sin, but God is inviting you into a new place – your true identity on the other side of the struggle. Wherever you’re struggling today, hear within the struggle the call of Jesus; He is singing over you … your true identity.
