Christ is Risen!


God’s Help

                                                                                                I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears (Is.38, 5)

The Lord, in His mercy, said these words to the sick unto death Hezekiah, despite that his sorrow was of earthly, even self-loving, nature: the tears of Hezekiah were caused by the fear of death and desire to live. Nevertheless Lord told him: “I …have seen thy tears”.

It might seem like there is an abyss that divides human weakness from the Devine Greatness. When I cry and suffer under a burden of a burning but earthly sorrow, wouldn’t Lord, in His compassion, see my tears? People’s wisdom says “no”, by Lord in His endless mercy proves to me, that He sees and listens to my tears. And I know that His word is true. People’s help is always limited; people can not learn and comprehend the whole depth and sorrow and need of their neighbor, end even if they could, they would not have neither resources nor time to bring a real help. But Lord, Who sees my tears and knows their cause, conform to my needs and by His great mercy, is always ready to help and comfort me. The comforts of God are mighty and wondrous. They don’t always correspond to the will of my heart, not always heal the cause; but they provide incomparably more than that – they put my soul in peace with everything what has been sent to me. They make it ready to willingly deny everything, what it is deprived of, and moreover, - “passing  through the valley of Baca make it a well“ and my soul goes “from strength to strength”, - glorifying God even for the sufferings, seeing His love in everything. Apostle Paul calls us, “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God”, not to expect to immediately receive everything we are asking for, but for “the peace of God”, which is always sent to us after we pour our soul out, to fill our whole being. It is said, “Peace of God, which passeth all understanding”. Incomprehensible, unshakable, it comes directly from God, not just for a minute, but to keep both our sorrowful hearts and troublesome thoughts in Jesus Christ. (Phil.4, 6-7)

(Translated by Tatiana Rozzell from “Every Day is a Gift from God. Diaries of an Orthodox Priest”, author unknown)