The Test of True Character

You don’t truly know someone’s character when they win. You see it when they fail.

Take Roger, a young player on my football team, as an example. In one practice, he caught the ball, broke free, and scored a touchdown. His body language lit up, his attitude soared, and he celebrated with his teammates.

Later in practice, Roger caught another pass, was hit, and fumbled the ball away. The defense recovered. This time, his head dropped, his shoulders slumped, and he blamed his teammates for not blocking.

Inky Johnson once said,

Now I recognize you don’t play middle school football. However, just like Roger, there are moments when you succeed and moments when you fail. It’s easy to have a great attitude when you’re winning. It’s hard to have it when you’re losing. It’s easy to treat people well when life is pleasant. It’s hard to give grace when you’re in the middle of disagreement or disappointment.

The good news? Times of challenge and controversy don’t just reveal your character, they forge it.

Character is when what you do, what you say, and how you live become one. If you take shortcuts in your character, you will end up surrounded by the wrong people, living for the wrong reasons, and missing your true potential.

So don’t run from the fumbles of life. Lean into them. Allow them to shape your character and use them to demonstrate what’s truly on the inside.

Now this doesn’t mean you have to like or even desire unpleasant circumstances. But when they happen, allow them to reveal the character you have worked so hard to develop.

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