Set aside your wish to find peace on this earth pre-maturely in order to receive it in time. That is, upon our death. Put to death your will. Receive all things as Gift.
Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov
No matter where one lives on earth, trials must be endured. While undergoing trials let us submit ourselves to the will of the Creator and consider ourselves deserving of sorrows. If we do this we shall find rest. When we become very despondent and begin to complain about our trials, there is a danger of becoming an atheist.
I can only achieve peace when I submit myself completely to the will of God.
If you struggle, then your way is not far from the road of God’s righteous, who walk among many struggles. Having bloodied their feet they reach the Heavenly City of Jerusalem. Set aside your wish to find peace on this earth pre-maturely in order to receive it in time, that is, upon our death. Let us prepare the heart, with gratitude and praise knowing that grief comes from the Hand of God.
Remembrance of Death. The only thing left for you to do is to forsake all earthly concerns and prepare your soul for departure from its physical dwelling for life in the heavenly realms. Our grumbling and worried voices we will change to words of gratitude and praise, for our Lord forges our salvation through unknown means and accomplishes it through small trials not worthy of the name of sorrow.
Whether we are in sickness or in health we should have as harbor for our hope, not our works, not our merits, but the mercy and merits of the God Man Jesus. Anything done without a struggle becomes unreliable and what you sow, and do not water with your tears grows un-predictably.
+ Glory to God for All Things +
Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov (1807–1867) was a prolific author of Orthodox Christian ascetical works. Published toward the end of his life, his writings continued to grow in popularity long after his death. Along with his contemporary, St Theophan the Recluse, St Ignatius is now considered a foremost authority on Orthodox spirituality. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988. His writings have previously appeared in English as The Arena and On the Prayer of Jesus, among other works.