Fifteenth-century Augustinian monk, Thomas à Kempis, is attributed with writing the classic work, The Imitation of Christ. In this passage the author describes how the temptations we suffer can be an indicator of our spiritual health, specifically the steadiness of our thinking and our trust in God. These words encourage us to recognize this fact and give careful consideration to the temptations we go through and how we bear up under them.

The beginning of all evil temptations is an unstable mind and a small trust in God. Just as a ship without a helm is tossed about by the waves, so a person who lacks resolution and certainty is tossed about by temptations. Temptation reveals our instability and our lack of trust in God; temptations reveal who we are. This is why we must pay attention to them.