Finding Strength In Math Problems

“Daddy, I can’t do this anymore. It’s so hard.”

It was the last day of the math assessment test and our son was doing well halfway.

Not until he came across a math problem he couldn’t solve.

After a few minutes of counting fingers and scribbling numbers, I saw him lose focus and just drop his pencil in surrender.

He then walked towards me just outside the classroom door, carrying a paper of unfinished equations, asked for a hug, and cried.

Our son loves challenges. But on this particular day, math got the better of him.

The reality is that no matter how good we think we are, life has an unusual way of breaking us, like math assessment tests.

And tests allow us to see the ugly versions of ourselves.

Weak, vulnerable, angry

In other words, human.

But if there’s any beauty that flows out of our distress,

It is knowing that every trial is a call for a faith check.

God allows us to see the ugly versions of ourselves.

Because He doesn’t want us to stay that way.

Because He knows we could be better.

God manifests His strength in our time of weakness.

Not everyone might agree with me, but I believe that God always has a purpose for every pain. And His purpose is always worth pursuing.

Maybe you’re in the middle of a test right now.

And I want you to know that I’m praying for you.

It’s ok to cry. It’s ok to be vulnerable.

Always remember that God manifests His strength in our time of weakness.