The Christian who complains, who constantly frets and fumes, doesn’t
feel that it is a great matter that he came into existence from non-being
and exists as a creature of God, and that for him God became man and died
and united Himself wholly with him. He does not feel that he might not
know God at all and be living in darkness, that he could be wandering
about. He does not take all these things into account so that his soul
would fill with gratitude and thanksgiving toward God. And he lives
joylessly.
When you are having difficulties, when you are brought to
complaining – if you accept these things before God: it is unimaginable how
much good there is coming out from whatever pressure or calamity that
you go through. There is no need for anyone to tell you this. On your
own, you will see that this is the way it is, and that is why afterwards
your thanksgiving towards God will become even greater.
Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos (†)
From the book: Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos, “SPIRITUAL MESSAGES” Panorama Thessaloniki, 2017
