Chapter 30. Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace (Book 3. On Inward Consolation as a Gift of God) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. "My Son, I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble. Come to Me, when it is not well with you.

"This it is which chiefly hinders heavenly consolation, that you too slowly betake yourself to prayer. For before you earnestly seek to Me, you do first seek after many means of comfort, and refreshes yourself in outward things: so it comes to pass that all things profit you but little until you learn that it is I who deliver those who trust in Me; neither beside Me is there any strong help, nor profitable counsel, nor enduring remedy. But now, recovering courage after the tempest, grow you strong in the light of My mercies, for I am nigh, says the Lord, that I may restore all things not only as they were at the first, but also abundantly and one upon another.

2. "For is anything too hard for Me, or shall I be like to one who says and does not? Where is your faith? Stand fast and with perseverance. Be long-suffering and strong. Consolation will come to you in its due season. Wait for Me; yea, wait; I will come and heal you. It is temptation which vexes you, and a vain fear which terrifies you. What does care about future events bring you, save sorrow upon sorrow? Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. It is vain and useless to be disturbed or lifted up about future things which perhaps will never come.

3. "But it is the nature of man to be deceived by fancies of this sort, and it is a sign of a mind which is still weak to be so easily drawn away at the suggestion of the enemy. For he cares not whether he deceive and beguile by true means or false; whether he throw you down by the love of the present or fear of the future. Therefore let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Believe in Me, and put your trust in My mercy. When you think yourself far removed from Me, I am often the nearer. When you reckonest that almost all is lost, then often is greater opportunity of gain at hand. All is not lost when something goes contrary to your wishes. You ought not to judge according to present feeling, nor so to take or give way to any grief which befalls you, as if all hope of escape were taken away.

4. "Think not yourself totally abandoned, although for the time I have sent to you some tribulation, or have even withdrawn some cherished consolation; for this is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. And without doubt it is better for you and for all My other servants, that ye should be proved by adversities, than that ye should have all things as ye would. I know your hidden thoughts: and that it is very needful for your soul's health that sometimes you be left without relish, in case perchance you be lifted up by prosperity, and desirous to please yourself in that which you are not. What I have given I am able to take away, and to restore again at My good pleasure.

5. "When I shall have given, it is Mine; when I shall have taken away, I have not taken what is your; for every good gift and every perfect gift is from me. If I shall have sent upon you grief or any vexation, be not angry, nor let your heart be sad; I am able quickly to lift you up and to change every burden into joy. But I am just and greatly to be praised, when I do so to you.

6. "If you rightly consider, and look upon it with truth, you ought never to be so sadly cast down because of adversity, but rather should rejoice and give thanks; yea, truly to count it the highest joy that I afflict you with sorrows and spare you not. As My Father has loved Me, so love I you; so have I spoken to My beloved disciples: whom I sent forth not to worldly joys, but to great strivings; not to honours, but to contempt; not to ease, but to labours; not to rest, but to bring forth much fruit with patience. My son, remember these words."

Nahum i. 7. Matthew vi. 34. John xiv. 27; Psalm xiii. 5. James i. 17. John xv. 9.