Problems, illness, temptation are some spiritual lessons through which God teaches us about eternal life. Struggles have a spiritual meaning. On the “successful” overcoming of these temptations, through patience and following God’s will depends our afterlife “degree.” These tests that we need to pass have as purpose the enhancement of our humbleness, self-knowledge and self-criticism. Pain and sorrow are man’s spiritual guide.

When the soul lives with the feeling of eternity, then his suffering is alleviated. And not only that is alleviated but, he is asking for the forgiveness of his many sins. When we set ourselves against the will of God, we are slowing down His work.

When a doctor makes a surgical intervention and the patient, because of the pain, reacts and tears off all the bandages and hits the doctor, what will he say? That he didn’t do the surgery in order to harm him but to cure him. The patient’s reaction can bring him his death. We act the same when we react to God’s tests that he sends for our own good. We should accept pain, suffering and sorrow, as a cure from God. We should endure the pain, the difficulty of our work and thank Him, be grateful and accept that our Father doesn’t make errors.

(Translation from Avva Efrem Filotheitul, Sfaturi duhovniceşti, traducere de Pr. Victor Manolache, Editura Egumeniţa, Alexandria, 2012, pp. 7-8)