Grief will succeed joy, and joy, grief, just as night follows day. This is how the Father of lights has established the path of God for those who are being saved. Just have patience and hope: engrave these in the depths of your heart and all adversities will be faced.

We have nice and sunny days and after this several cold, stormy days in order to have the plants grow. In the same manner we need to have joy and grief in order to be able to grow spiritually on the path of God.

So, why are you sorrowful and glum while walking along the path of God? Those who have forgotten God, who have no hope in the living and eternal fountain of God, should grieve. But we, who believe in the living God and whose hopes depend upon Him, ought to rejoice that we have such a Father.

Based on Elder Ephraim of Arizona, Elder Joseph of Vatopedi

A moment from Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of Saint Theodore, Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos

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