A friend of mine, who is a very successful IT guy, was going to be interviewed for a new job. He told me the interview would include a session to test his skills by "testing him to failure." He said, "It's a given that applicants for the job will eventually fail. The point at which they fail will determine if they are viable candidates for the job."
I heard something similar from the field of battle. Soldiers and spies who face the risk of capture are taught in their training that under torture, they will inevitably break. They are trained to do the best they can to delay this. That's the best they can do.
Got me thinking. Though God doesn't allow us to be tempted (to sin) beyond our ability to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13), I suspect that He allows us to be tested to failure when it comes to suffering. This may seem unkind, but I don't think it is. I think it is a necessary part of our training in godliness. When you reach a breaking point, when you can't take one moment more, when you crack, you realize that your strength is insufficient. You learn that your best is not enough and you accept that the frailty that is a common human experience is actually a virtue, especially when it is understood that God meets us in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:12).
When my challenges lead me to the breaking point, I often hear the inner voice of my false self telling me, "Hold on, hold on. Don't quit." Sounds noble. Sounds like it might be God.
I don't think so. I think God is saying, "Let go, Kevin. I am with You. I will uphold you. You don't have to uphold yourself. Embrace your weakness and see my strength."