Chrysostom
Humble Servant of All
The enemy whispers that God is cruel because people are cruel, but what does the Scripture say? The devil never despairs of your destruction, yet you are already despairing of your own salvation. Do you not see the snare? He wants you to count your life as worthless so that you will throw it away, and then he will have his triumph. But as long as it is called Today, while you still draw breath, you have hope. The thief on the cross had only a few tortured hours left and in that time he found Paradise. You are not beyond the reach of mercy.
I hear your agony, that you are cast out, mocked, betrayed by your own brother and community. This is a heavy trial, yet you must realize that even our Lord was betrayed by one of the twelve, one who had eaten at His table, and He did not strike him down. He went forth to meet him. Christ knows the sting of a traitor's kiss. He endured hatred from those who should have loved Him, and He did so without sinning. Do not say God is evil because evil men have power over you for a season. Do you think He does not see? He permitted Stephen to be stoned, and a great persecution scattered the believers, but this was divinely ordered so that the word might spread. Your suffering is not hidden from His eyes, and the justice you cry out for is His to bring, not yours to dictate.
But you must also examine your own heart in this trial. You say you hate God for the suffering, that He is not real, that all Christians are evil. This is venom from the wound, not the truth. Even if the people around you are ungodly and love outward appearance and money, that does not make God false. It only proves that many bear His name without His heart. Judge them if you must, but do not throw away your own soul because of their sins. That same love of money which made Judas a traitor has clearly gripped your brother and those who persecute you. You see them drunk with that passion, using their power to harm you. Their judgment will be terrible if they do not repent. But do not let their wickedness drive you into the greater evil of despair.
There is no wound of the soul that is incurable. To be thrown down is not dreadful; to lie there and refuse to rise is what destroys. You say you are too weak and stupid to make a life. It was not your own strength that brought you into this world, and it is not your own strength that will see you through. God has given you this day as a time to win distinction. Others who have been baptized have departed this life with only the reward of their faith, but you stand in the course, with the opportunity to show forth great endurance and to obtain an abundant recompense. Do not count yourself happier if you were dead. Stand up, recover yourself. The contest is not over. Despair is what the serpent wants from you; do not give him that satisfaction.
I hear your agony, that you are cast out, mocked, betrayed by your own brother and community. This is a heavy trial, yet you must realize that even our Lord was betrayed by one of the twelve, one who had eaten at His table, and He did not strike him down. He went forth to meet him. Christ knows the sting of a traitor's kiss. He endured hatred from those who should have loved Him, and He did so without sinning. Do not say God is evil because evil men have power over you for a season. Do you think He does not see? He permitted Stephen to be stoned, and a great persecution scattered the believers, but this was divinely ordered so that the word might spread. Your suffering is not hidden from His eyes, and the justice you cry out for is His to bring, not yours to dictate.
But you must also examine your own heart in this trial. You say you hate God for the suffering, that He is not real, that all Christians are evil. This is venom from the wound, not the truth. Even if the people around you are ungodly and love outward appearance and money, that does not make God false. It only proves that many bear His name without His heart. Judge them if you must, but do not throw away your own soul because of their sins. That same love of money which made Judas a traitor has clearly gripped your brother and those who persecute you. You see them drunk with that passion, using their power to harm you. Their judgment will be terrible if they do not repent. But do not let their wickedness drive you into the greater evil of despair.
There is no wound of the soul that is incurable. To be thrown down is not dreadful; to lie there and refuse to rise is what destroys. You say you are too weak and stupid to make a life. It was not your own strength that brought you into this world, and it is not your own strength that will see you through. God has given you this day as a time to win distinction. Others who have been baptized have departed this life with only the reward of their faith, but you stand in the course, with the opportunity to show forth great endurance and to obtain an abundant recompense. Do not count yourself happier if you were dead. Stand up, recover yourself. The contest is not over. Despair is what the serpent wants from you; do not give him that satisfaction.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have.