“…but he has told me, ‘My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Mother Teresa stands out as one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th Century and beyond.
She combined profound empathy and a fervent commitment to help impoverished individuals around the world. With incredible organizational and managerial skills, she developed a vast and effective international organization of missionaries. Yet, despite the enormous scale of her charitable activities and the millions of lives she touched, she held the most humble view of her own achievements.
She put it this way:
“By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”
Mother Teresa also lived life with a keen sense of humor. When reminded that God does not give us any burdens we cannot handle, she laughed it off and replied, “I know, but sometimes I just wish He didn’t think so highly of me!” Mother Teresa was certainly no stranger to challenges and doubts during her life. In a letter to a close confidant, she expressed some of those doubts and struggles: “Where is my faith—even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness—My God—how painful is this unknown pain—I have no faith—I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart & make me suffer untold agony.”
While such revelations are shocking considering her public image of seemingly perfect faith, they actually make Mother Teresa more real. And since we all experience doubts and struggles in our faith, somehow it helps to know that Mother Teresa navigated those seasons the same way we do.
Hitting rock bottom is not something any of us looks forward to. Yet these life crises can offer us opportunities for growth and service.
For instance, sometimes God allows us to go through hard times so that we can learn to truly trust Him. You see, when we do choose to trust God – even when there is no concrete evidence of His presence – we demonstrate real faith. And that faith is not only seen by God, but it’s a powerful witness to everyone who sees what you have gone through.
Everyone has doubts. So, when facing tough times (and we all do), recognize the opportunity you have to build your trust in God, deepen your faith, and become a powerful witness to all that He has done for you.
Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH
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