ПРОМЫСЛ БОЖИЙ

When you see a husband and wife living virtuously, and yet childless, when you see that they fear God and care about a pious life, but do not have children, do not think that this is a consequence of sins. Many of the intentions of the divine economy are unknown to us, but we must thank [God] for everything, and only those who spend their lives in vices are considered unhappy, and not those who do not have children. God often arranges many things in our favor, but we do not know the reasons for the events. Therefore, in any case, one should be amazed at His wisdom and glorify His ineffable love for mankind. All this is being told to you for your benefit, so that you always show gratitude to God’s Providence, and not test His destinies (1). You all, of course, know that infertility is unbearable for wives, especially because of their husbands. There are many such reckless husbands who blame their wives when they do not give birth, but knowing that the ability to give birth has its beginning from above - from God's Providence and that for this neither the nature of a woman, nor cohabitation [with her husband] and nothing else in itself is sufficient; but even though they knew that this accusation was not fair, they nevertheless reproached them, often even moving away and reluctantly living with them (1). He teaches people who think that everything exists without a reason and by chance that there is Providence over our deeds, requiring an account of what is being done. And he means judgment here as both future and present. There will be a general and open Judgment, but here God demands an account in a private way, awakening the careless and disposing the unbelievers to the thought of Providence over everything (2). Do not be embarrassed and do not lose heart when you look at His ineffable Providence, which can clearly be seen both in His action and in His permission. This is what Christ made clear to the disciples when one day in a conversation with them, having foreshadowed to them about judgments, bonds, the enmity of the entire universe and irreconcilable warfare, he said for their inspiration and consolation: “Are not two small birds sold for an assarium? And not one of them will fall to the ground without the will of your Father” (Matthew 10:29). With these words He wanted to show that nothing happens without His knowledge, but that He knows everything, although He does not do everything. Therefore, he says, do not be embarrassed and do not be afraid (6). You might be interested in: