St. Theophan on Suffering
It must be realized that the true sign of spiritual endeavor and the price of success in it is suffering. He who proceeds without suffering will bear no fruit. Pain of the heart and physical striving bring to light the gift of the Holy Spirit, bestowed in holy baptism upon every believer, buried in passions through our negligence in fulfilling the commandments, and brought once more to life by repentance, through the ineffable mercy of God.
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Beautiful! Thank you for this!
This reminds me of how often in the Psalms the psalmist compares his own suffering with the apparent ease of life that those without any thought of God enjoys.
I find my own self sometimes thinking this way.
It is good to have a reminder of the purifying effects of suffering.