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The freedom of rational beings has always been tested and is still being tested until it is established in goodness. Because goodness cannot be established without testing. Every Christian is tested in some way: one by poverty, another by illness, another by various bad thoughts, another by some kind of disaster or humiliation, and another by various bewilderments. And this tests the firmness of faith and hope and the love of God, that is, what a person is more inclined to, what he cleaves to more, whether he strives passionately, or is still nailed to earthly things, so that through such trials a Christian man can see for himself what position and disposition he is in, and involuntarily humble himself. Because without humility, all our deeds are vanity, as the God-bearing fathers unanimously affirm (2, part 1, p. 40). ...I don’t remember that I saw anyone without bewilderment and misunderstanding, because the enemy tempts everyone and does not want to leave anyone alone. The Monk Macarius of Egypt writes that the Lord allows the evil enemy to tempt Christians, so that they do not indulge in negligence, but try to live carefully and carefully. Secondly, so that through temptations they humble themselves and not become arrogant, which people are easily exposed to without struggle and the temptation of the enemy. Thirdly, through temptations people become more experienced and skillful and more firm. And first of all, the Lord allows temptations in order to separate the God-loving from the peace-loving, the voluptuous from the abstinent and chaste, the humble from the proud and self-loving, as it is said in the Gospel: I did not come to bring peace to earth, but a sword (see Matt. 10:34) (2, part 1, p. 48). ...Wherever you live, you cannot live anywhere without temptation, either through demons, or through people, or from your own habits, or from still untamed pride. It is not without reason that it is said in the Holy Gospel: The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force, and those who use force take it away (Matthew 11:12) and again: With your patience save your souls (Luke 21:19) and He who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). But I know that in N. you have something to endure... Be prudent and try to tolerate harsh and inappropriate behavior and you will receive mental and spiritual benefits. In such cases, remember: “Man is unskilled - unskilled” and again: He tested them like gold in a crucible and accepted them as an all-perfect sacrifice (Wis. 3:6). Demonic temptations manifest themselves in various confusions and bewilderments, but everything must be overcome by faith and hope and good hope (2, part 1, pp. 29–30). In the Gospel we read how the Lord told the Apostle Peter that Satan asks that he sow you like wheat (see Luke 22:31). And when the wheat is sifted in a sieve, it is thrown from end to end or spun around, so that the wheat itself swirls in the sieve for some time. If the enemy were allowed to tempt everyone according to his desire, he would turn everyone around. But the All-Wise and All-Good Lord allows the enemy to tempt everyone only to the best of his ability, and not beyond his strength. It is convenient for the enemy to tempt you, firstly, because you do not want to acknowledge his temptations, and secondly, he finds convenience in your view of things (2, part 1, p. 53). When you pray fervently, just be sure that there will be temptation. This happens to everyone (3, p. 212). Against other judgments, have and keep in mind the word of the Gospel: If this work is from men, then it will be destroyed, but if it is from God, then you cannot destroy it (Acts 5:38-39). You see for yourself that the work of the community is not ruined, but, although with difficulty and various obstacles, little by little it gets organized, confirming the patristic word: “Every good deed is either preceded or followed by a sorrowful temptation” (2, part 1, p. 32). Just as a Christian in particular cannot avoid and remain without temptation and trials, so it happens with monastic monasteries, not only with new ones, but also with old ones. Man is given from God freedom and reason and the law of revelation, and this freedom is tested by how a person uses it. The freedom of the Angels was tested... If freedom was tested in heaven, then how much more will the freedom and will of those living on earth be tested (2, part 1, pp. 40–41). ...You write about N’s upset situation. What should I do? She is wrong in that she cares too much about externals. But when a person is in temptation, you need to be patient with him, just as he inspires a good thought in you (2, part 3, pp. 31-32). ...Those who come to us from the city of Liven often repeat a word, the meaning of which I do not quite clearly understand: “The pusher will show the flour.” It must be that when they pound a Christian man, it will show what kind of torment is in him, of the first hand, or the second, or the third. And Saint James, the brother of God, writes that man is unskilled and unskilled. In the proverbs it is read to the monks: He tested them like gold in a furnace (Wis. 3:6). Temptations are unpleasant, but useful; and there is nowhere to go from them, according to what was said: In the world you will have sorrow (John 16:33). This means that in the whole world you will not find a sorrowless place; everywhere you come to the same conclusion that you need to be patient (2, part 2, p. 150). ...Especially now you need to learn from the Gospel word of the Lord: Be wise as serpents and simple as doves (Matthew 10:16). According to the divine interpreters, the wisdom of a snake consists in the fact that when its body is struck, it tries in every possible way to cover its head. Likewise, every Christian, when dealing sorrowful blows from the outside, must guard his spiritual head, i.e. faith both in the Lord and in His Gospel teaching, which proclaims a narrow and sorrowful path to all who want to be saved. But this oppression and sorrow are fleeting, and the reward for them in the future life is endless with both heavenly pleasure and inexplicable joy, according to what was said: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and it has not entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). All this must constantly be carried in the mind, and in the heart, and in memory, in order to be able to dissolve the wise struggle with passions and troubles from the outside with the gentleness of a dove, repeating to oneself the same words that our Redeemer and Deliverer spoke to God the Father on such occasions: forgive them this sin, for they do not know what they are doing (see Luke 23:34) (2, part 2, p. 59–60). Art is a good and most useful thing. The apostle praises those who were in temptation, saying: they were tempted, they wandered, enduring shortcomings, sorrows, and bitterness (see Heb. 11:37). In conclusion he adds: Of whom the whole world was not worthy (Heb. 11:38). If even such people did not avoid sorrowful temptations for the sake of their spiritual benefit, then we, the weak, should in no way renounce and avoid spiritually beneficial temptations (2, part 2, p. 62). For a long time you have longed for sorrow, trampling, and humiliation from people in a distant, well-known place, where your thoughts never cease to pull you with various messages. But instead, you are allowed to endure annoyances and temptations from demons in the very place where you live. I think that this happened to you because you acted contrary to what was said in the Lord’s Prayer, in which, firstly, we pray like this: “Thy will be done,” and then at the end: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” I don't know if you understood the meaning of these words. Saint Isaac the Syrian in the 5th Word explains them this way. Visible sorrows from people, from circumstances and from illnesses of the body must be endured and endured with humility and gratitude, submitting to the all-holy will of God. One must pray to the Lord about spiritual temptations, “so as not to be subjected to them.” “Let us pray,” says this saint, “not to fall into temptation about faith. Let us pray that you do not fall into the opinion of your mind, into temptations with the demon of blasphemy and pride. Let us pray that, by God's permission, you do not enter into the obvious temptation of the devil for the sake of the thoughts that you have thought in your mind, for the sake of which you were allowed (into this temptation). Pray that the Angel of your chastity will not depart from you, so that you will not fight the burning battle of sin and be separated from it (i.e. from the Angel). Pray not to fall into the temptation of irritation with anyone or into the temptation of double-mindedness and doubt, which lead the soul to great difficulty. Prepare to overcome (sorrowful) bodily temptations with all your soul and pass through them with all your strengths, and fill your eyes with tears, so that the Angel who protects you does not depart from you. Apart from these temptations, the Providence of God is not visible, and it is impossible to acquire boldness towards God, and it is impossible to learn the wisdom of the spirit, and it is impossible for the divine desire to be established in your soul.” And this saint also adds, saying: “And again, let us pray not to fall into the obvious temptation of the devil for your arrogance, but to love God for you, so that His power will help you and you will defeat His enemies, so that your love for God will be tempted, and His power will be glorified in your patience...” (2, part 3, p. 5). ...With full health, especially young people, what kind of wasteland does not come to mind. The enemy, in order to lure them out of the monastery, promises them almost the entire kingdom of earth, and all sorts of benefits, and all sorts of pleasures, and things that are inconvenient to write. But in fact, if they listen, he rewards them with disgust. Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes that the world promises gold, but gives gold (2, part 1, p. 32). Edifications are pouring in on us from all sides, but all that remains is not to reject, but to accept generously or at least patiently endure. If we are not well physically, the holy Apostle Paul encourages us, saying: Even if our outer man is decaying, our inner man is renewed from day to day (2 Cor. 4:16). They revile us and accuse us on the side, at this time let us remember the Gospel words of the Lord Himself: Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unrighteously for My sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for your reward is great in heaven and your reward is everlasting (see Matt. 5:11–12). On earth, everything is temporary and short-lived and fleeting. Soon everything passes, both pleasant and joyful and sad and painful. If we have chosen the path of piety for ourselves, then we must remember and not forget the apostolic word: All who desire to live godly... will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12) (2, part 2, p. 158). Try not to take your real circumstances to heart, but to live, imitating how some people walk through the forest out of necessity or of their own free will: you come across a gnarled tree - they will bend or go around, and some annoying branch will whip you in the back of the head - they don’t really look at it (2, part 1, p. 178). You write that until now you have nothing in your hands that is true. But do not worry about this and do not doubt, but place your hope in the all-good Providence of God, believing that the Lord is strong to bring everything to a good and useful end, just be forced during this winter to graciously endure the inconveniences and troubles that may arise, always remembering the gospel word for your support: the path that leads into eternal life is narrow and sorrowful (see Matt. 7:14). If you reason wisely and endure, then the real winter will pass little by little, as if imperceptibly. When the unpleasant time and unpleasant inconveniences pass, the person does not remember these troubles. However, a person’s entire life, no matter where he lives, is nothing more than a temptation. Look at your circumstances and at the circumstances around you, and then this will be clearly revealed to you. It is briefly said to everyone who wants to be saved: Save your souls through your patience (Luke 21:19). But who knows how many sorrows those who do not seek salvation endure, and perhaps more than the first? Manage to your salvation! (2, part 1, p. 178). You might be interested in: