St. Anatole of Optina, the Elder (+1894): The Lord Sends Temptations for Our Salvation

 

December 23, 1876

I received your letter, sorrowful and infirm D., and I very much regretted that such an intelligent girl conducts herself so unreasonably in the spiritual life. From your words it is evident that you understand the spiritual meaning of monasticism, but in practice you are weak. Well, what are we to do? Humble yourself, reproach yourself for your weaknesses, and hasten with a request for help to God. God never abandons those who flee to Him to temptations beyond their strength, especially His young ascetic. For He, the Lover of mankind, sees the assaults of the passions of dishonor from the devil, but He waits in order to see our free will; and thus, He afflicts us. And for what purpose? So that we, first, may recognize our weakness and humble ourselves; second, so that, seeing our powerlessness and the assaults of the enemy, we may turn to God, the Helper in sorrows who has greatly found us; and third, and most important, so that, having passed through fire and water, we may become experienced. For an untested man is inexperienced, according to the word of God. But God wishes to make you experienced and allows that mother should reprimand you and at times even shake you up. Yes, D., this is very beneficial. And it greatly helps against the passion of fornication. Saint Nilus of Sinai writes: “Do not reject the leather smiths (that is, the tanners); for though they beat, trample, stretch, and scrape, by this very thing your garment becomes bright.” You keep sounding the trumpet: death has come. But the Lord Himself said: “A grain, unless it falls and dies, will not live.” Thus, the Lord sends you temptation so that your living and lively passion may die — and therefore death comes to you. But according to the word of God: “If we die with Christ, with Him we shall also live.”

For all your weaknesses — both for laziness, and distraction, and carnal lust, and vainglory, and other sins — may God forgive you. And I, the unworthy one, do not condemn you, for you are still young and untrained — therefore you are also impatient.

And when there is heaviness, examine your conscience: is there not some unrepented little sin?

When you fulfill your prayers, or your rule, give thanks to God; but if you do not fulfill it, reproach yourself. Blasphemous thoughts strive not to accept and do not believe them, and the Lord will forgive you. When thoughts come, do not accept them, nor repel them, and still less conjure against them or argue with them — this is not according to your measure! But flee to the Lord with prayer and humility. The fornication thought and fear are permitted because of our pride. Reproach yourself and try not to look at that which tempts — and the temptation will pass. The memory of the saints must be honored, expecting mercy from them. And in order to cast out the inner evil — it is necessary to speak much, much. For now this is enough…

Write everything as you are able — do not be constrained; if possible, I will always answer.

 

Russian source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Anatolij_Optinskiy_Zercalov/pisma/#0_93