Sorrows Are Beneficial for a Christian
April 5
(A word about a woman who prayed to God, to whom no misfortune had come.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
April 5
(A word about a woman who prayed to God, to whom no misfortune had come.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Why is it, brothers, that in times of sorrow we for the most part lose heart, give ourselves over to despondency, and let our hands fall? It is because we do not understand that sorrows also serve for our salvation and for our blessedness, if they are endured with hope in God, with devotion to Him, and with humility. Look at the example of the saints of God. Since they knew well that sorrows are necessary and beneficial for the salvation of the soul, not only did they not lose heart when they were in sorrows, but even when they did not have them, one could say, they themselves sought them out, looked for them, and asked God for them.
One of the monks, being in Alexandria, entered a church to pray. There he saw a certain honorable woman in humble clothing, with a servant beside her, and this woman, falling before the icon of the Savior, cried out: “You have abandoned me, Lord, have mercy on me, O Merciful One!” Hearing her cries and seeing her all in tears, the monk thought: “It seems she is a widow, and someone is wronging her.” When she had finished her prayer, the monk called her servant and said to him: “Tell your mistress that I need to speak with her.” The servant told her, and she came to the monk. The monk asked: “Who is it that wrongs you so much that you complain so bitterly to God?” The woman, with tears, replied: “I live in the world, and no one has ever wronged me in any way. And that is precisely what I am weeping about — that because of my negligence God has abandoned me and for three years has not visited me with any sorrow. During this time neither I myself have been ill, nor my son, nor has even a single one of my household birds been lost. And reflecting on this, I think that God has become angry with me, and I beg Him that He would visit me with something, at least with anything.” The monk marveled at the God-loving and steadfast soul of the woman and departed from her, glorifying God on her behalf.
This is how the saints of God regarded sorrows! They saw in them even the mercy of God. And this is natural. Sorrows teach us to seek consolation in God. When grievous sorrow torments the soul, the knees of the one who suffers bend involuntarily, and he throws himself before the Lord in tearful prayer. Sorrows strengthen our spirit. In prosperity the soul grows weak; in misfortunes it becomes accustomed to patience and is strengthened morally. From the school of afflictions a person comes forth like gold from the furnace; his soul opens freely to receive everything good and beautiful. Therefore, let the holy will of the Lord be done! If He gives us happiness — we will bless Him; if He visits us with sorrows — we will again bless Him. Blessed be His name from now and forever. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
