But when despondency settled into him, and revealed its power in devouring, exhausting, and consuming him with its teeth, becoming unbearable to him, then what he formerly considered to be the heaviest burden of all [i.e. death], he now considers to be lighter than this [i.e. despondency]. So, too, Jonah, in fleeing from despair, sought refuge in death, saying, “Take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

Listen to what he said then, as he prayed: “It is enough now, O Lord; take my life from me, for I am no better than my fathers.”15 And that most fearsome thing [i.e., death], the height of torture, the chief of evils, the punishment for all sins, this he asks for in prayer, as he wishes to share in a portion of grace. For despondency is much more oppressive than death. In order to flee from the one, he takes refuge in the other.

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

But however debilitating this fear of death is, as shown forth above, and even in the experience of those saints I’ve mentioned, it is easier to bear than despondency. It is for this reason that I have extended myself in writing this “double course” of words, so that I may teach you that whatever price you pay, you will receive in its place a much greater corresponding recompense of good things. And so that you may learn that this is so, I will hasten to come to those who are crushed by despair, as I began to do earlier.

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

For despondency is for souls a grievous torture chamber, unspeakably painful, more fierce and bitter than every ferocity and torment. It imitates the poisonous worm that attacks not only the body but also the soul, and not only the bones but also the mind. It is a continual executioner that not only tears in pieces one’s torso but also mutilates the strength of one’s soul. It is a continuous night, darkness with no light, a tempest, a gale, an unseen fever burning more powerfully than any flame, a war having no relief, a disease which casts a shadow over nearly everything visible. For even the sun and the air seem to be oppressive to those who are suffering from these things, and midday seems to be as darkest night.

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

“I steadily increase my pain through these thoughts.” For when you ought to be doing everything you possibly can to throw off your torment, you do the devil’s will by increasing your despondency and grief. Or do you not know how great an evil despondency is?

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

Therefore, if you wish now to reckon up the pleasant things along with those that are sorrowful, you will see that many events have happened which, if not signs and wonders, still resemble signs, and are ineffable proofs of the great providence of God and his solicitude. But if everything you are hearing from us is not immediately providing you comfort, I leave things to your consideration, so that you may very carefully analyze everything and make a comparison of these things with your reasons for sadness, and through this good effort you may lead yourself away from despondency. For you will gain much consolation through this.

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia