Recognizing Misfortune or Trouble Leads One to Seek Deliverance

By Our Holy Father Tikhon of Zadonsk

Man is both soul and body. If the body has misfortune or trouble, so does the soul. The body is visible and its trouble is visible; the soul is invisible and its affliction is invisible. The body is perishable and its trouble will come to an end; the soul is imperishable and immortal and its affliction has no end and remains with it throughout the ages if it is not freed from it. The soul, as it is perceiving, immortal and created in the image of God, is far superior to the body. Therefore, its troubles are far greater, more dangerous and more cruel than troubles of the body. Bodily troubles never die and always remain with the immortal soul, unless it be delivered from those troubles. For this sake, O Christian! Pay attention to the following:

1. It is difficult for a person to live in physical poverty; but much more difficult to be in spiritual poverty. It is difficult for a person to have a body which is sick and feeble. It is difficult for a person to do physical work for the benefit of an evil tormentor; but it is more difficult for the soul to work for sin and through sin for the devil. Whosoever committeth sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34). It is difficult for a person to be bound with chains of iron: but it is far more difficult to be bound with chains of sin. Iron chains torment only the body; but chains of sin torment the soul. It is difficult to face the wrath of a king; but far more difficult to face the wrath of God. It is difficult for a person to be physically held prisoner by an enemy; but far more difficult to have one