“Our circumstances don’t change, but we change.

The Lord said we *will* have tribulation and that we *may* have peace.”

—Fr. Daniel Fanous

Let us then follow whithersoever He bids us, and let us not too carefully consider whether He commands us to go by a smooth and easy path or by a difficult and rugged one, as in the case of this paralytic.

Saint John Chrysostom
On the Two Paralytics in the Gospels
Homilies on Profitable Subjects

In order that you may learn, from another angle, what the gain of sufferings is, even if one does not suffer for God—and no one would consider this to be an exaggeration—if one suffers and bears it nobly, and with meekness glorifies God for everything, he will be rewarded. Even Job did not know that he suffered those things for God—and indeed, this is why he was crowned, because he endured them nobly, not knowing the reason for his sufferings.

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

So then, expect great rewards for such torture-many prizes; recompense beyond description; brilliant, abundantly blossoming crowns for such agony. For it is not only for the good one does, but also for the evil one suffers, that one obtains many rewards and great prizes.

—Saint John Chrysostom, Letters to Saint Olympia

Many are the tribulations that ended good. Live them in hope and faith in the good that is about to come and not in the distress that is already here.

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. IV

In each difficulty that he faces and for each problem, he has hope that God will save him. No matter how hard it is and how late God will be, this person has hope that God will come, even in the last hours of the night. Therefore, he does not ever lose hope.

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. III

Do not look at a problem but look at God to solve it. Your feelings that God is standing with you in your difficulties will give you hope and strength.

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Experiences in Life

Tomorrow is Better for You

Don’t live in your present day if it is too wearisome for you, but live for your tomorrow.

In this tomorrow see the hand of God reaching out to you to calm you.

And on the morrow you will see many solutions to your problems.

If your today is dark, then your tomorrow will open before you windows of light.

The Saints lived for their tomorrows, for their eternity, and hung all their hopes upon it.

David lived for his tomorrow when Saul was pursuing him. And so did Jonah when he was in the belly of the fish…

Joseph lived for his tomorrow when he was in prison and so did his father Jacob when he was fleeing from Esau, trusting that God would restore him from his exile…

If things become problematic for you, say to yourself that they will be solved tomorrow.

Then smile and live for that tomorrow…

—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Experiences in Life

“I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers

flow in the right direction, will the earth turn

as it was taught, and if not how shall

I correct it?

Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,

can I do better?

Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows

can do it and I am, well,

hopeless.

Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,

am I going to get rheumatism,

lockjaw, dementia?

Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.

And gave it up. And took my old body

and went out into the morning,

and sang.”

—Mary Oliver