Category: SUFFERING & TRIBULATION

  • He afflicts only to amend; even when He seems to overwhelm, He means nothing but good

    —François Fénelon, Spiritual Progress

  • Privations are meat for men; by them the soul is rendered hardy, is separated from self, and offered in a pure sacrifice to God; but we give up all, the moment they commence. We cannot but think that everything is going to ruin, when, in fact, the foundations are just beginning to be solidly laid. Nothing would give us more delight than that God should do all his pleasure with us, provided it should always be to magnify and perfect us in our own eyes. But if we are not willing to be destroyed and annihilated, we shall never become that whole burnt offering, which is entirely consumed in the blaze of God’s love.

    —François Fénelon, Spiritual Progress

  • This trial from the hand of God, will be far more serviceable to you, than the self-sought sweetness of prayer. You know very well that constant retirement is not necessary, in order to love God. When He gives you the time, take it and profit by it, but until then, wait in faith, well persuaded that what He orders is best.

    —François Fénelon, Spiritual Progress

  • Distress checks sensual pleasure; the fear of punishment withers desire.

    —St. Thalassios the Libyan

  • The experience of suffering afflicts the senses; distress annuls sensual pleasure.

    —St. Thalassios the Libyan

  • How hard it is to sit at home with nothing to do but wait. To wait—the most difficult thing in the whole world. To wait—with no living soul in whom to confide one’s doubts, one’s fears, one’s relentless hopes.

    —Anna Kavan, “Airing a Grievance”

  • You should dwell on something exactly to the point that dwelling on it further doesn’t do you any good.

    —Bret Weinstein

  • The practical person does not spend his life in the past, but he learns a lesson from it and works for the present and the future, with all his might…

    —Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. 1

  • As for the outside cross, it is any affliction that the faithful endures for the sake of God, either of his own will or imposed on him.

    —Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. 1

  • And just for the same reason we can more easily bear a misfortune which comes to us entirely from without, than one which we have drawn upon ourselves;

    —Arthur Schopenhauer, The Wisdom of Life