He that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22). Do we have anything to endure? No
one has too little to put up with. There’s so much that each person has to
endure; therefore, our salvation is also at hand. Endure everything to the end,
and you shall be saved. However, you’ve got to be clever; otherwise, you might
suffer a lot but don’t gain any benefit from your suffering.
First of all, you
must stand strong in the holy faith and build your life upon it. If you happen
to sin, wash your sin away with repentance as soon as possible.
Secondly, you must
accept everything as if it were sent by God, remembering that nothing ever
happens without God’s will.
Thirdly, you must
trust that everything that comes from God benefits our souls. Therefore, you
must thank God sincerely for everything, sorrows and comforts alike.
Fourthly, teach
yourself to love sorrows, for they are greatly salvific. Kindle the desire for
them in your heart, since they are a bitter yet saving remedy.
Fifthly, keep in mind
that when trouble hits, you cannot shrug it off like old clothes; you will have
to get the better of it. No matter if you survive that trouble like a Christian
or not, you will have to experience it anyway; so you'd better act like a Christian.
Grumbling doesn't save you from trouble—in fact, it makes it even worse. Humble
submission to God's plan and good humor make troubles less unbearable.
Sixthly, you must
realize that you deserve even greater sorrows. Be aware that if the Lord had
wanted to serve you justice, you'd have had a much greater turmoil.
Lastly, keep praying,
and the merciful Lord will grant you spiritual strength, so that even if others
are astonished by your hardships, you'll not regard them as something worth
being sad about.
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Translated by The Catalog of Good Deeds
Source: https://azbyka.ru/days/2019-01-16
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