On Despair

In moments of despair know that it is not the Lord who leaves you, but you who leave the Lord. S. A. Nilus

In every sorrow — in illness, in hardship, in perplexity and in unpleasantness — it is better to think less and talk little with yourself, and to pray more, even if only briefly calling on Christ God and His All-pure Mother. In this way despondency will pass, and the heart will be filled with hope in God and with joy.

It is the devil’s cunning work to plant despair in us after he has thrown us into sin. Abba Stratilates