In listening to a near death experience of someone who had attempted suicide, the author finished describing her encounter with Christ on the other side in these words,
“My heart broke as I realized that I had been not only hurting my family who are beloved children of God, but also causing my Savior, who had such all-encompassing love and compassion for me to suffer all because I had allowed myself to be molded by other people’s weaknesses.”
That last line caught my attention: “I had allowed myself to be molded by other people’s weaknesses.”
It got me thinking because it perfectly describes what may be the most formidable temptation we face in life. I say that because it undercuts the singular means of inner transformation in the Christian life — the renewing of our minds.
I simply cannot practice renewing my mind so long as I’m preoccupied with how the moral weaknesses in others are affecting me and justifying my reaction to them. Instead of turning to Jesus to learn from him how to overcome the evil with good, I’m upset or worried or frustrated or hurt or running away from what I find so repulsive in others. Hence I am allowing myself to be molded by their weaknesses instead of by the Spirit of Jesus regardless of what other’s did or failed to do.
“Do not be conformed to this present world,” writes the Apostle Paul, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NET 2nd Ed.)

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