Two of the most beautiful hymns of praise in the Church’s service books are the brief song at the end of the seventh canticle of Matins (“Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers . . .”) and the eighth canticle in its entirety (“Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord . . .”). The songs, sung by three children in a tyrant’s furnace, are golden beauty refined by the patient endurance of the flame of trials. This reminds us that, even when we experience disappointment, sorrow, and difficulty, we should nevertheless give thanks to God. Indeed, we might say that we should give thanks to God especially in times of disappointment, sorrow, and difficulty. As we read in the brief but powerful work of Orthodox Christian samizdat literature, “This Was from Me”: “I have given you these difficulties and as the Lord God I will bless all your works, in all your paths. . . . Remember always that every difficulty you come across, every offensive word, every slander and criticism, every obstacle to your works, which could cause frustration and disappointment: This is from Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from Me.”
Home / Work of the Church / Reflections in Christ / Metropolitan Tikhon /