Patience is needful and a product of Faith

In our daily life we encounter many temptations and difficulties. Sometimes it is difficult to think about God and acknowledge His never ending  love. All these trials and tribulations seek to divert us from a God-pleasing life following His commandments. Because of this, the path is described as narrow and difficult. The only way a faithful person can remain on this path is to have patience.

Saint Theophan says,

Patience overcomes misfortunes and patience withstands temptations. It is the foundation of a life that is unquestioning and always faithful to God’s commandments. Without patience not a step can be taken on that path.

The mother of patience, he says, is faith. This is a faith that firmly believes that everything we encounter comes from God or is allowed by Him. He has promised that He will not give us more than we are capable of handling if we only trust in Him. Everything we encounter is part of the path necessary for our perfection in Him.

Saint Theophan says,

If with God’s permission some temptations do occur, this is only to let us overcome that which draws us towards sin and receive the crown of righteousness for our strong devotion to the Lord’s commandments. Therefore, just endure this time of temptations, and that which seems so heavy will bring joy here, and prepare the ointment for eternal joy there, Believers have this kind of patience.

This kind of patience demonstrates our true faith and shows that it is God’s power working actively in our heart. 

Saint Theophan says,

Patience gives steadiness in goodness; and this steadiness makes faultless all the efforts of the enemies, and tears all their nets. Steadiness itself is a fruit of God’s power, which has settled in the heart for its dedication to God.

Prophet David demonstrates the faith and patience. He writes,

Sinners have set a snare for me, yet from Thy commandment have I not strayed (Psalm 118:110).

Reference: Psalm 118: A Commentary by Saint Theophan the Recluse, p248.

The Work of Patience and Humility

Often, when we are overtaken with boredom regarding our spiritual practices, we will also find we are easily overtaken with despair when confronted with events that do not go as we desire. This is an indication of our spiritual immaturity. We need both patience and humility because they are important works in our spiritual life.

Saint Seraphim says,

A lofty and sound soul does not despair over misfortunes, of whatever sort they may be. Our life is as it were a house of temptations and trials; but we will not renounce the Lord for as long as He allows the tester to remain with us and for as long as we must wait to be revived through patience and secure passionlessness!

All the trials of this life are opportunities for our spiritual growth. Even the most difficult situation provides a chance to demonstrate our love and gratitude for all God's works. This is how we learn to practice patience.

Saint Seraphim tells us,

One should always endure any trial for the sake of God with gratitude. Our life is a single minute in comparison with eternity.

Saint Paul says,

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18).

Saint James says,

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4 NKJV)

Humility goes with patience. It is about our willingness to accept whatever comes our way, instead of holding on to the notion that the life of this world should operate by our own ideas or standards. When we are demeaned by others challenging our personal honor we should make an effort to forgive them. We should consider that we are unworthy of this honor we think we possess. It is our work to learn to humble ourselves always.

Saint Seraphim says,

Let us love humility and we shall see the glory of God; for where humility issues forth, there the glory off God abounds.

Reference: Little Russian Philokalia, Vol 1, pp 34 - 37

How to Develop Patience - Candy?

Patience is something most us us long for.  Too often we find ourselves upset because something does not happen how and when we want it to. But how can we develop greater patience?


Elder Paisios gave some good advice about how to develop patience to one of his followers.  When he was asked about how to acquire patience, he went into his cell and brought out a bag of candy.  


He gave to him and said: 
"Take two a day.  However, do not chew them. Be patient and wait until they melt in your mouth."


Do you see the wisdom he uses here?  He takes something so simple, eating candy, something that is an everyday thing, and turns it into a spiritual exercise. He makes the exercise simple and doable.  You too can find many of these opportunities in your daily life to help develop virtues such as patience.




Reference: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, p 144

Grumbling

Have you noticed how often we find ourselves grumbling about this or that?  It seems that it is our nature to complain about something.


Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev writes,

Grumbling is like the autumn hoarfrost which, when it falls, destroys all the labors of the gardener.  Few people realize how bad grumbling is for the soul.  Almost everyone considers it to a small sin, but even though it seems so, it has very grievous consequences.  In the autumn before the hoarfrost falls, the experienced gardeners notice the signs of the coming cold weather and urge their young helpers to gather the peppers and the tomatoes.  the young ones laugh: "Why should we gather them? the weather is still so nice!"  Then the next morning they see th first frost has come over the gardens.  they pick up a pepper and take a bite to taste it, but it is as bitter as poison and cannot be eaten.  Thus their small carelessness has destroyed all their labors.  In the same way grumbling withers all the virtues of the soul and makes bitter and useless the fruits of suffering.

Why is this so dangerous?  God gives us difficulties and problems to help us come closer to Him.  This is His only aim.  He wants us to be united with Him. But when something is not just how we like it, we grumble instead of giving thanks to God.  You see, we turn away from Him rather than towards Him to seek strength and direction.  This is the danger of all our grumbles. When we grumble we have separated ourselves from God.  When we grumble we are not pleasant to others.  As Alekiev says, "grumbling withers all the virtues of the soul."

Not grumbling, but patience in suffering––this is what God wants from us.  "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19), the Savior has instructed us, because "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).  Into this Kingdom of God one cannot enter with pride which teaches us to grumble, but with humility which makes us patient.  There are no greater teachers of patience that sorrows.  This is precisely why God sends us suffering: so that we will humble ourselves before Him.  No one has been saved by pride, because "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). The doors of the  Kingdom of Heaven are too low and narrow for the proud to enter through them; only those humbled by the sufferings of life can go through them freely.

I cant tell you how often my wife and I will find ourselves in the car on the way to church grumbling about so many little things.  When we are lucky, one of us catches our plight and says, "Let's thank God."  This always awakens us to our sorrowful state.


A good exercise is to examine your grumbles––just for one day.  Look at what it is you grumble about and reflect on why God set this discomfort in front of you.  See if you can find a way to give thanks to God for all He sends you. How can you draw strength from your relationship with Him. I think you will find this to be  a rewarding exercise.


Remember, God did not promises us that we would not have difficulties.  But He did promise that He would give us help and comfort.

“In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Ref: The Meaning of Suffering and Strife & Reconciliation, p 35, 39


More on the Orthodox Way of Life

Patience

Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

"By taking one small step at a time, and nobody not thinking that in one big step we are going to get any place, we can walk straight to the Kingdom of Heaven––and there is no reason for any of us to fall away from that ."
Fr. Seraphim Rose