Don't deny your doubts and your struggles. BE WHO-YOU-ARE before Christ, so He may save who-you-are.

Don't look for the easy way out of pain. Do not deny the reality of your doubts, your struggles and your sins. Be who-you-are before Christ, so that He may save the truth of who-you-are.
---
T O S U P P O R T T H E M O N A S T E R Y:
By PayPal & Credit / Debit Cards: mullmonastery.com/donate/
B Y C H E Q U E (U S A only) - Cheques should be written to 'American Friends of the Celtic Saints' and sent to: 3736 W County Rd 4, Berthoud, CO 80513. All cheque donors will receive a tax-receipt for their donation.
---
I C O N S, S P I R I T U A L B O O K L E T S and P R A Y E R R O P E S made at the Monastery are available through our online store: shop.mullmonastery.com
---
Remember to S U B S C R I B E and S H A R E !
---
The video 'Don't deny your doubts and your struggles. BE WHO-YOU-ARE before Christ, so He may save who-you-are' was recorded by Fr Seraphim Aldea, at Mull Monastery (The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints), on the Isle of Mull.

[@burgervonstadt6503]

"God can save the sinner you are, but not the saint you pretend to be." I forget who the quote comes from, but it stuck with me.

[@HristosInAfrica]

Metropolitan Antony Bloom If I am not wrong

[@deanaburnham9571]

I like your quote. So God forgives the pretentious too, but it's harder for them to see their need for repentance. Terrible place to get stuck.

[@georgyporgy5539]

I used to think being a true Orthodox Christian meant being weak. I could not have been further from the truth. When God says if you want to follow me pick up your cross and follow me, He wasn’t kidding. The journey for me has been tough and incredibly fulfilling. God works in mysterious ways.

[@thewingedhussar810]

Thank you, Father Seraphim. I'm not sure how you are doing it, that you always find exactly those words and teachings I need right there in my life. Thank you for the faith. May God bless you always.

[@cammojunkie46]

A.D. Same. Every day is Father hands me the road map for that day!

[@hisownfool1]

Likewise

[@augustbergquist5649]

Please don't stop posting these videos, they are so helpful.

[@jdweberg]

"I'm sorry. Now we are turning to something much less beautiful than the sunset. It's me." As a protestant brother who grew up in Montana (the land of the big sky), I have a great appreciation for beautiful sunsets. This was a beautiful sunset. It was not as beautiful as you. You are beautiful because God has made you, and He has done beautiful things through you. My soul has been blessed through you, my brother. Thank you for following God and trying to promote Him in your videos. Even if you were to never post a video again, God has used you mightily in the lives of people like myself who strive to give our lives to God. Be blessed, my brother!

[@tonyhoffman6749]

Dear Father, please, please don’t give up your videos, so many people are helped and inspired by them. I am RC but find your words more helpful than my priest’s. I would love to hear your thoughts on confession!

[@lindaglendenning3896]

☦️ In my sufferings the world is a big place with many types of evil temptations, it takes many forms, negative thoughts, pain, isolation and loneliness, fear and sickness. I stay to myself to limit these temptations, it helps. I worship the Orthodox Liturgy on KZbin for my Salvation, it keeps me focused on Christ.

[@maaikekamstra7353]

O,k I am very critical about everything. Questing every thing. Believe nothing. But feel your heart. Feel your heart. I start crying. I don't believ in sjit anymore. Not in soft words any more. I believe no one anymore. But feel your heart and love. Tears drip from my eyes.

[@michaelraiger623]

Julian of Norwich claimed that when she saw that God didn’t blame her, she determined not to blame God. So Divine, yet so human.

[@heatherwhitehead3743]

The closer I walk towards the light of Christ the more the light reveals my offenses. We must be able to shed the layers of fallenness to arrive before our Lord naked as the day we were born.

[@dr.klausschwab6184]

Just seeing you makes me smile, like an Instant hit of uncreated Grace, truly a Blessed Man ☦🙇🏽‍♂️

[@AM-nc5tg]

Ma simt sfaramata si coplesita. Multumesc pentru incurajari./I feel broken and overwhelmed. Thank you for your encouraging words.

[@pufipisic3824]

,,Si Dumnezeu īmi Răspundea necontenit prin tăcere..." - atât de adânc, smerit și plin de nădejde...❤💒❤

[@tonyhayes9827]

If God is silent I will be silent too. So beautiful. Suffering united to Christ crucified is salvific. St. Pio said if we knew the value of suffering we would pray for nothing else. Only here do we find any answer to the problem of suffering even though it remains a mystery. The benefit is enormous. You mean our suffering has benefit for eternal life. Alright! I might still suffer but now I accept it gladly and stop worrying about it! What a huge psychological boost! Thank you once again Fr. Seraphim. What a great voice you are in this life.

[@rasimoo999]

From the Holy Orthodox Church of Sts Cosmas and Damian at Kilmarnock Ontario I thank you for this sermon. God be with you little brothers,God be with you.

[@wilkesreid]

You are a human being created by God, much more beautiful than any sunset.

[@mc-vu4vh]

Multumesc Parinte Serafim pentru ca ne inspirati ceva de nedescris in cuvinte. Sa va binecuvinteze Bunul Dumnezeu si sa aiba grija de toti fratii din Manastirea Mull.

[@brookemcmorris7853]

Here is a testimony Brothers and Sisters! Just as I thought to myself, God wants me to come as I am, honestly so that he can change me as I am to become who we want me to be, this video popped up. I believe it is no coincidence. This is a revelation. Come as you are as the song says. Obey and trust in the Lord. Read the scriptures so you know his way and are able to discern from the enemy but just ask in prayer what you need and he will help you. I forgot the verse but it says somewhere in the new testament (I think 1 Timothy). That God will give you wisdom on subjects without fail if you just ask the father. So ask! And come as you are to his everlasting mercy. He loves you so just come as you are and he already know your heart he just want you to reveal yourself to him so you can join in perfect communion. I don't know if I am right on this but I hope so. Either way trust in the Lord and here's a little testimony for yah. Please pray for me 🙏

[@solarsequitor7374]

Thank you.

[@thomasmerlojr2649]

Dear Fr. Seraphim in my prayers for you and your Monastery on Mull Island. Please pray for me Paisios Thomas Victor Merlo Jr residing in Bethlehem PA USA. Please pray for my employment and health. Love to you. 🙏

[@lindaphillips4646]

Dear, dear, Father, i already left a comment below, but i just had a chance to watch your opening words on the video about Monasticism, etc. in WA..at ST. PAUL Church. Your saying that you had learned not to say, no, no matter how difficult it felt for you to say, yes, because you had learned that the Lord had put it in your way to do this, were sobering words. Thank you. Have heard no more yet. Just had to stop and tell you here.. since no comments are allowed there. Your words which took less than 3 minutes were valuable.. Oh, what a joy to have met you in LA on one of your visits.. and to watch these videos that help us so much.. even as they take great effort on your part to do. But THAT is one of the reasons they are so valuable. . This is actually a VERY GOOD video to go along with the other, i believe.

[@suchisthismystery2814]

Don't surrender your loneliness so quickly. Let it cut you more deep. Let it ferment and season you as few humans and even divine ingredients can. Something missing in my heart tonight has made my eyes so soft, my voice so tender, my need for God absolutely clear. ~ Hafez (14th-century, sufi mystic, master, poet extraordinaire.)

[@muchtested]

I am disabled and am struggling with accepting the limitations imposed by this. Your message has been most timely and needed. Thank you for the lovely sunset view.

[@Oilofmercy]

I struggle with a disability also. It's tough. We cannpray for each other .

[@augustbergquist5649]

Same here, it's tough.

[@muchtested]

@@Oilofmercy Thank you, I will pray for you, too.

[@muchtested]

@@augustbergquist5649 It really is hard. Shall we pray for each other?

[@user-uz5te9qc7t]

Prayers for you! Don't give up!

[@annedelobel6795]

THANKS

[@hellenicculture8169]

hello brothers pray for us!

[@ronreyes395]

yes. it benefitted me. Thank you Jesus

[@karasu1982]

Thank you for sharing that sunset. I needed to see that today.

[@jilllucyfan7835]

As a mother of 2 boys who both have learning issues, I've been struggling with my faith and wondering what I've done wrong, and why God hasn't answered my calls for help....you said just what I needed to hear. Thank you for this video - perhaps keeping my silence and letting God do his work in his time, is what I need to do. God bless you. Amen.

[@davida7595]

What a wonderful mother you are.. I will pray for you.. ☦️

[@MrIoanparaschiv]

Prayer is a very good choice. May God give you strength to go on with your prayers and help your boys. Bring your boys to the Divine Liturgy such that they can take the Holy Eucharist. This will help your boys on the learning issues. Ask the advice of the spiritual Father, remain close to the Church and things will be good in time. I have witnessed so many miracles in numerous families that grow up in the Church, but this takes time. God bless !

[@muchtested]

I will pray for you.

[@anna14campbell]

I have a learning disability myself and because l just don't look like or sound like it my teachers wouldn't believe me, shame me and call my lazy until it was too late and l never got any sort of therapy or training to help my learning disability. I'm 20 and struggle to operate with even single digit numbers, mix up left and right, struggle to copy ornaments even though l'm a painter now. The advice I could give as someone who has been there is to not let teachers call them lazy, help them find what they are good at and let them have enough time doing something they enjoy and gives them a sense of accomplishment. May God help you!

[@williamcurrie4482]

Thank you. I am a Roman Catholic but I love listening to your words of wisdom. It helps that I love Scotland!!!

[@isidorakarisik380]

Another Catholic here, so much enjoying this!

[@ak99]

Thank you Father. I pray that looking upon the cross we see the greatest joy known to mankind!

[@ericdrake904]

Very appropriate for me.thankyou.

[@slimshady1394]

Thank you so much, Father Seraphim! I have been struggling a lot lately with this exact phenomenon... The feeling of grace has left me and this has been hindering me in many ways as I have started drifting away from the Lord... But how can a soul that even once felt the sweetness of the Lord forget it and turn away from Him? So I thank the Lord that my conscience keeps reminding me that despite me drifting away from the Lord, there is nothing worthy in life but Him... So I have to be honest in my prayers to the Lord and confess to Him all my shortcomings and even if this spiritual state does not go away (which I am sure it will, since it is entirely my fault, and the Lord always makes a way for us, it is us who are faithless and do not love Him..), there is nothing more worthy than giving it a try! Please pray for all our souls, Father Seraphim, so that we never forget the Lord, the only true Truth, Life, and Way.

[@grfromus8992]

I'm learning that suffering is ultimately good for the soul. If we keep silent and accept it it can lead to sainthood. Thank you Father for reminding me.

[@amyfrezgy4198]

.....Give us our daily bread.... Father truly are our daily bread

[@lillyroses]

Amen Amen Amen 🙏

[@PintsWithAquinas]

Thank you, Father!

[@markrabahi9805]

God bless you! for your amazing message ❤️

[@anaslavinec6840]

Thank you dear Father. Your videos help me so much 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 God bless you. Amen.

[@bloo4448]

Praise God for these wonderful discussions. I am so grateful and find I want to listen every day. Sincere and pure. This was valuable to me today.

[@edge6441]

Thank you. God bless you father!

[@Slaweniskadela]

Dear Father, this has been most useful for me. Pray for me, servant of God, a sinner, Anthonius. + I was welcomed to Holy Orthodoxy (from Roman Catholicism) some 7 years ago and am still I child with much to learn, especially with being more vigilant and in fasting the right way. Please pray for me, a sinner. Thank You!

[@colmwhateveryoulike3240]

Perhaps God was allowing him to store up more treasure in Heaven.

[@cynthiahaines3203]

Thank you 🙏I have been under grate spiritual warfare for so long it is very tormenting. GOD was with me as a young child I have been waiting my whole life for his coming and to have these thoughts are horrifying that everytime I pick up the bible very intense thoughts that I put have to put the bible down. There is nothing i love more or than GOD AND YASHUA. When YASHUA said to the Father why has thow forsaken me. To be separate from the Father is being in hell😪🙏

[@andreahutchinson5783]

Amen, Amen, Amen

[@annelizification]

Thank you for the lovely sunset retreat.

[@barbarapsomas3573]

Thank you Father for this beautiful explaintion, I have learned so much this morning.

[@KadmosHarmonia]

I had a similar fascination with sunset in the Adriatic a couple of days ago. That is to say, fascination with God's beauty and peace, or peaceful beauty and beautiful peace. With Logos. Needless to say how thankful I am for that. Right now I'm recovering from a migraine that I quite often have and that's a completely different world, that's being submerged, in a way. But I've just taken some pills and listened to Father Seraphim and am thankful for both as they both helped me re-emerge. I listen to Orthodox monks from my linguistic tradition as well and feel diverse degrees of similarity of spiritual concerns and attraction. But with Father Seraphim I feel this high degree of synchronisation and likeness that is, I believe, independent of the fact that I also belong to the Orthodox church (half of my family is Catholic). It is very obvious from the comments here. Not only do we have to make every effort to know ourselves , our true selves, which is already a hard enough exercise to do, but to constantly remind ourselves of it and to use it, that sincerity, as the starting point for our spiritual growth. I think it is, at least for myself, a recursive and asynchronous process rather than just linear. If there is one advantage of being an Orthodox Christian I would like to emphasize, it is this ample space and time, as Father Seraphim says, to be allocated in our lives to this endeavour that , to other denominations and cultures, may too easily appear too egotistic or impossible to achieve in our contemporary circumstances.

[@dianebeaulac9989]

This is a Beautiful video, it encourages me. 🙏

[@mariamehaddad]

Allow God the space and time to work in your life. 🙏 grateful

[@RobertSmith-tx9jn]

Thank you so much I listen and I'm cleansed by the tears I'm given. Thank you, for your guidance I listen and it helps me to look deeper in faith. I seek the lord and know him as he has known me from before this soul was given this body.

[@grez6330]

Oh Father you and I are so alike my brother.....I hear you....God loves you with his closeness to you....thank you for your passion....it is so very lovely to my soul.....my brother.

[@aliecoop]

Thank you for sharing this truth and great love with us. It is really helpful. Light in these often dark days.

[@judyrussoniello1497]

Blessings

[@thomknox9802]

No worries Father. I have found fount of wisdom in your video musings. You have become one of my "Dear Ones". May the Three-in-One continue to Bless you and all those at Mull Monastery. Thank You!

[@JoeZakhem-gv2jv]

Father!!! Thank you so so much from the bottom of my heart. Honestly this video came as a blessing to me in a time of need. It hit the nail on its head concerning my situation. Time to head towards that cross that i’ve been escaping and running away from. God bless you ☦️☦️

[@cat999991]

It benefited me. Thank you.

[@katymclaughlan5658]

Yes, thank you

[@isabelsilva62023]

The joy with which you shared that sunset with us would be reason enough to watch this video and then came your words and they were so precious and helpful, Thank You!

[@sandragrace4613]

Thank you for sharing!

[@marioroma7325]

Thanks to God , it benefits me, so lets go ahead for more🙏❤️

[@franciscalester8879]

Thank you Fr. Seraphim

[@SymeonPhronema]

Thank you Father Seraphim! This was very helpful for me!!! I pray that you keep posting!

[@Peekay72]

Wonderful, thank you father. Your thoughts on St Sophrony made me think of what St Silouan, his mentor, was told by God in prayer in his own despair: 'Keep your mind in hell and despair not.' I always found this very difficult to understand, but your talk makes it clearer. The tension is the cross. There is much to think about.

[@mullmonastery]

St Silouan and St Sophrony had a much more equal relationship than we give them credit. I believe St Sophrony allowed the idea that he was merely the disciple of St Siloaun because of his great humility. In fact, St Silouan was the one who approached St Sophrony after he had heard the advice St Sophrony had given to a pilgrim. In this advice, St Silouan recognised an equal, someone who had received the same grace. But Saints are like that, they love to compete in humility with each other, and to place the other one above oneself. May we all be blessed through their prayers.

[@stevendinello1922]

This message was for ME. I believe GOD had you make this for me. I have been so sad ltely at my circumstances and with the fact that I left seminary and my order for legit reasons, but now I may never again get back into another seminary or order or even become a diocesan priest, and my heart is breaking because of this. Ijust want to become a Priest!!!! Please everyone pray for my vocation.....that I have not blown the only opportunity.

[@GuydiscipleofJESUS]

Amazing sunset great message BLESSINGS IN JESUS NAME

[@OrthodoxChristianWife]

Tears of joy

[@julieanntoth5676]

Thank you Fr. Seraphim 🙏God bless you Amen🕊🔥⭐️🇭🇺☦️

[@anthonyazzopardi273]

Greetings from Cyprus, may God give you and us the peace of mind and wisdom through ceaseless prayer that we need to go through these difficult times, it's wonderful that your sharing your wisdom with us, God bless you and your spiritual work.

[@likeoilpouredout]

Thank you andGod bless you Father!

[@lindaphillips4646]

Thank you,Father. I have just watched the introduction of you from 8 years ago in WA. Before a talk about monks, etc. Have no had a chance to watch what you said yet.. but i am glad to know of your life and studies before you took on the task on mull and iona which the Lord gave you and which blesses all of us.. Glory to God!

[@cameorose1431]

You are our gift from God Father Seraphim...thank you for your uplifting words of wisdom...you give us strength and hope and true spiritual guidance everyday...

[@mhpupacios]

Thank you 🙏 wonderful that Saint Sophrony can still speak to us through you. And that was a beautiful message you conveyed from him and all of us should hear it . God’s love and my prayers for you . Mark IC XC NI KA

[@bobbygordon3257]

So gorgeous thank you for the sight of God...

[@cata2215]

Thank you for sharing this message. It was just the spiritual medicine I needed to hear. God bless you!

[@sisternovice]

Such deep thoughts such wonderful words

[@francineblomberg744]

Thank you so much, Fr. Seraphim. I love the Christ in you. This video is the best. Both the sunset and the words.

[@mariannemallo474]

God bless you Fr.Seraphim Thank you for all your video’s they are helping a lot of people in their spiritual life. ❤❤❤

[@danettecross8608]

This is such a true message. When we are completely honest with the Lord and HUMBLE, that is when we get a flash of light from the Holy Spirit that answers so many questions, or at the very least brings great peace even in the questions we have.

[@donaldmurphy8435]

Fr. Seraphim. You didn't know if this message was going to benefit anyone at the close. Rest assured, it has. Thank you for the profound insight. I have been trying to, in my imperfect, sinful state, and in my weak willfullness attain a saintly state of being by rejecting every disgraceful thing that presents itself in my life. It is being revealed by the Lord, that my attempts are in vain. The Lord, in His abundant love, has permitted the attacks of the enemy in my life to teach me who NOT to be. He Is now allowing me to love Him, as is His due, and others as well despite all of our imperfections. Thank you, again for the reminder that my willfulness may not be what our loving Creator has in mind, and to face what He is presenting!

[@mullmonastery]

May God bless you, dear Donald. Thank you for sharing this with us - it gives us confidence and the courage to keep going forward. May we all be blessed.

[@michellecoombes5531]

It is said that we must pick up our cross and carry it daily and endure till the end.

[@robinski5031]

Loved the sunset. Truly a gift of God. Thank you so much Fr. Seraphim. Your words make so much sense to me and help me so much with questions I always seem to have. God Bless you. You also are a gift from God.

[@camillaraymond8917]

Thank you, Father Seraphim. Shared it with friends. I think I’ll listen to this one twice. ☦️💞🙏🏽

[@innocentgreen1338]

Amen and I did the same!

[@tresageorge2535]

Just what I was thinking.

[@Michael_Binkley]

I tried during Covid to keep the three jobs I had, but one was in very sharp conflict with keeping a stable schedule and prayer, and let it go. After seeing this I feel as though, perhaps I should have kept it to grow, but I was disgusted with the amount of frustration that it brought about in me and have others to be stable for as well. The reality is that I am trying to kill passions, but not at that rate. I do desperately struggle as well as I know and treasure the word from Saint Sophrony. Please pray for us average people struggling out here now. It is difficult and sometimes we need to step back and have a cup of tea.

[@colmwhateveryoulike3240]

It's not about how we compare to each other brother, and compared to God none are good. Better that you're not so frustrated and fair play to you for trying so hard and keeping two jobs! God bless you.

[@judyrussoniello1497]

Tha nk. You 4 identify my struggle s

[@thelotuspad]

We don't pretend they are there, suffering pain misery... because we do believe in them, so we experience them. God knows not of these things and so remains silent🙏

[@TheAmberlion]

Father Seraphim...... Bless you..... Thank you Father God for your Blessings @ the end of day..... 💗🙏💗

[@marieh9204]

Wow, father this sermon was prompted obviously by a beauty you took notice of & because you gave credit to God, that beautiful sunset, created this beautiful sermon. Anyone of us at any given time in our lives struggle with, the question why? It is our human nature to know things. But when it comes to God‘s will with the situation we would not have chosen, we must buy full faith and trust be OK without the answer to the question ,why?? When we fall so beautifully into the most fullest trust in our Lord and Savior, we open the door to a new world of The person God meant for us to be. I have been going through this season for the last four years of my life and though the most difficult, it has been the most blessed and the most closely I have ever felt to the Lord in my life. This sermon was unbelievable and the truest definition of the will of God is complete trust in the Lord & complete honesty of ourselves in front of HIM, that is where our road To sainthood begins and ultimately to our eternal home with HIM!! Thank you Father for this beautiful beautiful sermon, like I said the sermon was as beautiful as the sunset that you so graciously shared with us. Many thanks and much love to you!

[@florinngh2342]

Sometimes.. we really are so unable to do 😥 ... hard to pray sometimes, hard to read books for growing in our relationship with Jesus. Seeing ourselves so tiny and little, and disappointed of us, we barely find words in prayers😥🙏🏻🪔 to be all of us in one little place in Heaven with our Jesus, our Father, to receive the good answer for our soul's Salvation😥🙏🏻🪔

[@Mary-ui4im]

I needed to hear that so much. Thank you Father!!!

[@markpalka6382]

You have the right idea! It is not a matter of trying, but trusting (Gospel Of Luke, 18: 9-14)!

[@ionatanpurcaru5020]

Amin! From România. Hristos a înviat!

[@christinerisler1786]

Thank you and God bless🙏

[@RevBrettMurphy]

Thank you for your wise Holy Spirit guided words Fr. Seraphim. I've endured the most horrible suffering in the last 18 months and I have been struggling to understand why. I asked God and felt a certian sense that He was present and working in the midst of it all. I was led to the Prophet Jeremiah and his words about the Potter shaping the clay and I realised who am I as the clay to question the Almighty Potter? He is good and loving and always has my best interests at heart. May God bless you and your whole monastic community. -Fr. Brett

[@lawrenceebner6827]

Thank you father seraphim these were questions that I recently had myself. Sinful man that I am. God bless you.

[@catherinenjogu136]

Thank you Fr. Seraphim for this message. God desires that we remain true to Him and true to ourselves, even when we recognize the shortcomings, vices, and weaknesses we possess.

[@colmwhateveryoulike3240]

I am often very thankful that even though I fell away from my childhood faith for a time, my parents told me who God was so I was never tempted to pretend He did not already know my thoughts better than I did. Even when I did fall away I spoke to God about it and told Him my doubts about Jesus and I felt Him reassure me and the funny thing is that He let me stray even to atheism for 15 years or so but drew me back not just to Him but to Christ also. So from that experience I can attest to what you say so much better than I can. It's been true in my life, even though God knew I was so wrong that He was willing to guide me when I didn't even believe.

[@rsgreen30]

Again, thank you Fr. I needed this today.

[@theenglishcatholic5685]

Wish i could smell the fresh air watching the sunset

[@meronassefa4080]

Amen🙏🏽☦️

[@jesseliddell4472]

Thank you Seraphim. This was very helpful in reminding me to trust in God's plan and love for my life, and yours. I recently read a book about the existence of God and whether we can know Him. This shook me for some reason. But I had lost sight of the importance of faith. God bless, brother.

[@jovanblom7742]

I find healing with you, dear father...