On friendship

 

Every friendship that is not based on true love and humility, but is passionate, is unstable and will fall apart. 

On enduring sorrows

 

 

If a person endures sorrows with submission to the will of God, while confessing his sins,

 

through this he will be delivered from the threat of eternal torments.

 

Therefore, it is better to endure troubles here, no matter how difficult they may be, casting your sorrow upon the Lord and praying to Him with humility, that He deliver us from faintheartedness and despair, which are worse than any other sins.  



 

  

On boredom and laziness

Boredom is the grandfather of despondency, and laziness is the daughter.  In order to drive it away, exert yourself at work, do not be lazy at prayer; then boredom will pass and zeal will come.  And if you add patience and humility to this, you will spare yourself from much evil. 

Wait on the Lord

Do not worry about and do not get angry at the members of your household.  You have come to God—wait on God.  He is more trustworthy than all the princes and the sons of man.  And do not be attracted to the present life.  If you are at peace—thank God, if you are grieved—again, thank God.  And always await the mercy of God. 

 

 

 

The passing things of this world

We must entrust everything to the will of God, even our being separated from each other.  The Lord enlighten us in order that we not become attached to the things of this world, no matter how precious they might seem, in order that we might strive for the heavenly, saving our souls.  Strive only to save your soul, for everything else is vanity.  Everything of this world is ephemeral.  Our thoughts must be with God, in the future life.  Everything of this world will pass. 

 

All that will live godly in Christ...

On earth, everything is temporary, brief and transitory.  Soon everything will pass by, that which is pleasant and delightful, just as what is lamentable and sorrowful.  If we have chosen for ourselves the path of piety, then we must remember and not forget the words of the Apostle:  All that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution, (II Timothy 3:12)

On the spiritual life

Our life can be likened to a deep ditch, which in times of rain fills up so much that it cannot be crossed, and at other times it dries up and no water flows in it.  The Holy Fathers lauded the life that flows like a small stream which flows continually, never running dry.  This small stream is good because it is always easy to cross and because it is pleasing and healthy, its water being good for drinking since it flows peacefully and is never murky. 

 

Possess your soul

 

In your patience possess ye your souls, (Luke 21:19).  Therefore, do not become weak and despair when you have the chance to possess your soul.  To possess your soul means to give it the significance and place which it was appointed by God. i.e., royal, like unto God, venerated, holy.  To not do this means to destroy your soul.  For what is  a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul? (Matt 16:26).  Therefore, always have in mind first the spiritual welfare of others, and then what is physically necessary: comforts, tranquility and, perhaps, time for relaxation. 

The mask of good

With the mask of good remaining in fallen nature, the enemy strives to draw everyone away from Christ, cunningly showing that fallen good is the only good, which is the way it seems to someone who does not know the teachings of Christ. 

Regardless of all the seductions of the enemy, whoever would adhere to the Gospel teachings must unavoidably experience a struggle within himself.  Fallen nature loves itself and loves this world, while the Gospel requires self-sacrifice and love of God. 

Therefore, the two can never be reconciled.

Optina fathers on arguments & quarrels

One must not argue, for an argument can sometimes cause great unpleasantness.  It has been said, “He is great before God who behaves humbly towards his neighbor,” and “God will exalt the humble, but the proud and argumentative God will humble.”  One must reproach only himself for his own faults, and not his neighbor.  St. Joseph

From a person with an argumentative character, you can hardly expect anything else.  In the spiritual life there is nothing worse and more harmful than argumentativeness.  For a while it is sometimes concealed, but then it again is revealed in its former strength.  St. Ambrose 

Those who are indignant with us teach us to philosophically examine ourselves:  are we really Christians?  Do we love our enemies?—and to recognize in this our own infirmities.  St. Macarius

Care for your soul

Each of us must mainly take care for himself, for his own soul, for his personal spiritual welfare, because according to the Apostle, each of us must give an account for himself to God.  Our confusion stems from the fact that we are inclined to educate others, and we try not only to persuade others, but also to dissuade, and to provide proof through various arguments. 

Our hope is in the Lord our God

One must always pray that the Lord will show him the way…Let us pray to the Lord that He will save us and will come to our aid in times of sorrow and need.  I see no other refuge or hope.  Human solutions are vain and mistaken.  When you have to endure something which is very difficult, but you know that it is not of your own will, you receive moral relief and peace of soul.  May God’s will be done!  May the Lord not discredit our faith and devotion to His will.  Our only hope is in God.  He is our firm foundation for everything else is unsure.  You absolutely do not know where it might be better, where it might be worse, or what to expect.  May God’s will be done!  Our work is to preserve ourselves in the faith, and to keep ourselves from every sin, and entrust everything else to God.