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Life of Faith, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

80- Test Of Faith During Distresses

 

5-Test Of Faith During Distresses.

Trials face every man. There is a big difference between the believer and the non-believer's souls that accepts this trial. If the trial disturbs your peace then know that your faith is weak.

The believer accepts trials believing that they are for the good and that God will solve them. He is not disturbed or troubled and his heart is not burdened with sadness and pain.

St-Takla.org Image: Petals of a rose in the shape of hearts, over a book.  صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أوراق زهرة (بتلات) على شكل قلوب، فوق كتاب.

St-Takla.org Image: Petals of a rose in the shape of hearts, over a book.

صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أوراق زهرة (بتلات) على شكل قلوب، فوق كتاب.

He faces it with three verses, “All things work together for good to those who love God.” (Rom 8:28), “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials ” (James 2: 1), and also “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23). With this faith, his heart rejoices in the trial and people are comforted through his happiness.

The believer places God between him and the trial; the trial disappears and God appears, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. He remembers God's hand with the saints in all their trial “The Angel of His Presence saved them." (Is 63:9). He remembers what happened to Moses, Joseph, David, Job, Daniel and the three young men. All these increase his faith in God and increase his confidence in God's interference and in His word. Thus he is not shaken in trial, he doesn't doubt, doesn't feel sad and doesn't feel anxious... but says with the psalmist “Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped....Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 124).

He tells the Lord: as long as You accept the trial then I am happy with it.

I do not only accept it or approve of it, but I am happy that the Lord gave me the blessing of this trial... It is lovely what was said about the apostles after being whipped “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:41).

The believer sees the door of God open in spite that all other doors seem to be closed.

He believes in God who has the keys of Heaven and earth “He who opens and no one shuts.” (Rev. 3:7). The believer chants with Saint John saying “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven." (Rev. 4: 1). To test the faith is to see all doors open in front of you, and every time you see a closed door in front of you, you say: This is not the door God wants me to go through. God has many other doors open.

There are doors that are now closed but God will open them later on with this faith you can calm down.


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