Troubles are part of the mystery of our salvation’s iconomy. Jesus said that here, on earth, we will suffer but it is important not to despair, but to put our trust in Him: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”(John 16:33), “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13), “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Luke 21:19).

The Holy Apostle Paul, based on the words of God said that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22), “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Many are the coming troubles.

Some of them are brought by our sins: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1: 13-15).

They come to us as a test from God for our spiritual strengthening.

Troubles in the life of the righteous serve as a lesson for the wicked, so that they realise if the righteous has problems, even more will the wicked suffer. This is why, he (the guilty) is called by God to understand that he should learn from his problems so that he will no longer sin “He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression” says Job (Job 36: 15).

Sometimes troubles are sent from the devil, who is “jealous” on the Christian man that helps other people in need. He hates us because we pray to God and we help others.

St Mark the Ascetic strengthens us in harsh times through his beautiful teachings such as:

 “The reproach of people brings sorrow to the heart but it becomes a mean of purification for the one who endures it” (Philokalia, vol. I, p.235);

 “Any suffering without your will should teach you to remember God, thus you have the chance to repent yourself” (Ibidem, p. 236);

 “Rejoice when the trouble is over and you will find the destruction of sin” (Ibidem, p. 236);

 “No matter how much scorn someone endures for the truth of Christ shall receive a hundredfold glory from the crowd. But better is to do good for those that will come” (Ibidem, p.236);

 “He who wants to overcome temptations without prayer and patience will not succeed, but worse it will get tangled in them” (Ibidem, p. 246).

Anyone who is in trouble asks God in his prayers to cast the problem away from his life, and they rightly do so. Nevertheless, we need to entrust ourselves in the will of God, because He knows better what is good for us. According to the teaching of the church, the best thing to do is to ask God to give us patience to endure all the coming troubles.