Many things happen for our guidance

Many of the things that happen to us happen to us for our guidance, or for the extinguishing of past sins, or for the correction of present inattention, or for the avoidance of future sins. He who therefore thinks that the trial has come to him for one of these does not rebel when he is struck, especially if he is conscious of his sin, nor does he blame the one through whom the trial came to him, for either through that or another, he had to drink the cup of divine judgments.

But he looks to God and thanks Him who permitted the trial, and blames himself and receives the rebuke with a good heart, behaving like David with Shimei, or like Job with his wife. The fool, however, asks God to have mercy on him; but when mercy comes, he does not receive it, because it did not come as he wanted, but as the Physician of souls thought it would be useful. And therefore he becomes careless and troubled, and sometimes he fights fiercely with demons, at other times he blasphemes God; thus showing himself dissatisfied, he receives only a beating.

Saint Maximus the Confessor

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