Письмо 120

Relying on the will of God, you do well, without grieving over events that happen against your will; what you would like, but it doesn’t happen; therefore, apparently, it would not be of any benefit to you. You, having surrendered yourself to the will of God, hope that He will give you the idea of ​​living for Him alone. In this wisdom one must be careful: God wants everyone to be saved and to come into the mind of truth (1 Tim. 2:4); but as we see from the sacred narratives that there are those who are being saved and those who are perishing, is it really God’s fault that he did not give a thread of good thought that could lead them to Him? This would be blasphemy against God. He created man autocratic, and wants him to choose the right path and strive for Him; He is ready to help him and strengthen him in this, but does not force the unwilling person to choose the right path, but allows him to do so according to his evil will, and therefore the person himself who does not choose the good path is guilty, as he writes in the psalm: he does not desire blessings and will move away from it (Ps. 109:17). Therefore, it is necessary, according to the reason and autocracy given to us by God, to choose what is good for ourselves and ask, may He confirm this in us with His favor and help us to fulfill it; for without Him we cannot do anything. I wish you that the Lord will confirm in you your good desire to fulfill His holy will, and help you to carry it out, but with humility: for this is His holy commandment and the most necessary for our salvation. Just as through pride we fall away from God, so through humility we draw closer to Him: the Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). The sinful hieromonk Macarius. November 9, 1836. You might be interested in: