That Our Suffering Is for the Purpose of Our Conversion

Excerpted from Lesson 2: The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle & Evangelist John the Theologian, Series 3, by Fr. Peter Heers
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[@AramsYoutube]

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

[@orthochap9124]

Psalm 77/78:34 “When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.”

[@georgyporgy5539]

As usual your message is pure gold

[@geoneo777]

I feel all my suffering was meant for me to come back to Orthodoxy. I suffered greatly, but I could not attribute that my suffering was because I was far from Jesus Christ. It is sad that humanity can not attribute their suffering to this also, but I feel that humanity has to go through this process. I have faith and belief in God though, even in end days. For those who struggle I recommend Holy Communion, Holy Confession, Faith, Helping the Poor, Charity, Unceasing prayer (Jesus Prayer), Fasting and Forgiveness (even though I struggle with last one). I also incense everyday, this has helped me greatly, incensing has been the most surprising actually. I feel like if you do these things God will protect you. I feel confidence in God for the first time in my life. Glory to God.

[@orthovision3296]

Amen

[@rondias6625]

🙏☦️..

[@theclown7840]

So does this mean I must put myself purposefully in harmful or uncomfortable situations in order to be saved?

[@Orthodoxi]

If you purposely repent. It inevitably happens.

[@damianhuman]

resisting yourself and your sinful habits that bring pleasure will give you discomfort

[@Esho_777]

Other way around. When you begin your journey with Christ, that is, you've made a conscious decision to deny yourself -i.e., resist temptation, submit yourself to God (asking His will be done, not your own and therefore ridding yourself of your ego step by step), then you will see the world different. You will by the grace of God withdraw from things that are not of God and that's when the devil strikes, but he is very deceiving and if you're beginning then God will only let you go through trials to the limit of your faith. Get yourself a crucifix, an icon of any saint that you relate you (you can find many stories on youtube), and ask for their intercessions because they fought the good fight and can guide you. It is difficult but Christ is to renew your mind, change your mind about this world, deny your ego, and pick up your cross (your struggles) daily, and follow His commandments joyfully.

[@JohnVILXIII]

Not an eagle. An angel. _"And I beheld, and heard an _*_angel_*_ flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!"_

[@Orthodoxi]

He knows. He states prior to this the fact it is interpreted both ways. Watch the whole presentation.

[@BodilessVoice]

Can you explain early childhood sexual molestation from that perspective?

[@AramsYoutube]

Sure it is explainable. And not only that, but also any other bad things that happen to children, including death, suffering from diseases, natural catastrophes, hunger, labor abuse and so on... BUT this is also important to understand that most(not all) things that happen to children is due to their parents or societies UNGODLY lifestyle... So they bare much of the responsibility. And also IN GENERAL you cannot explain all things just from a "particular perspective" from the bible, but rather from the WHOLE bible and the HOLY TRADITION. God BLESS!

[@juniorgallo8786]

So many tragedies hapen to children, you can see them happening right now if you go to any cancer hospital, or to an abortion clinic, or to a cobalt mine in Congo. It's up to God how He works for the salvation of each one of us. It's not irrational, it's suprarational. We cannot approach it with our limited and earthly intellect. As far as I know, from what I hear from the Fathers, those who die in the early childhood are already saved. Those who survive the sufferings in childhood will keep struggling, as everyone also will. Just saying what I could apprehend from the Fathers, I think you'd better talk to an Orthodox priest for a better explanation. Greetings!

[@Astorath_the_Grim]

Milstone

[@Orthodoxi]

I found the spiritual molestation to be the most damaging. As in all things forgiveness is the way to healing for us all. No matter how horrendous these abuses are, even unto burying us, God heals us His Children perfectly. Then we give in offering the same that He alone offers to all.

[@annalynn9325]

God doesn’t cause the suffering. He created humans with free will. Some use their free will for depravity, sadly, and harm the most innocent and helpless. But God can leverage tragedies to bring about repentance and faith. What was meant for evil God can use for good if the victim turns to Him

[@fitsumgarredew9624]

It honestly makes much more sense to explain our suffering as God taking a lens and burning the human anthill. Nothing seems to bring him more joy than human pain.