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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Thirtieth Chapter
THE QUEST OF DIVINE HELP AND CONFIDENCE IN REGAINING GRACE
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, I am the Lord Who gives strength in the day of trouble. Come to Me
when all is not well with you. Your tardiness in turning to prayer is the
greatest obstacle to heavenly consolation, for before you pray earnestly to Me
you first seek many comforts and take pleasure in outward things. Thus, all
things are of little profit to you until you realize that I am the one Who saves
those who trust in Me, and that outside of Me there is no worth-while help, or
any useful counsel or lasting remedy.
But now, after the tempest, take courage, grow strong once more in the light of
My mercies; for I am near, says the Lord, to restore all things not only to the
full but with abundance and above measure. Is anything difficult for Me? Or
shall I be as one who promises and does not act? Where is your faith? Stand firm
and persevere. Be a man of endurance and courage, and consolation will come to
you in due time. Wait for Me; wait -- and I will come to heal you.
It is only a temptation that troubles you, a vain fear that terrifies you.
Of what use is anxiety about the future? Does it bring you anything but trouble
upon trouble? Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. It is foolish and
useless to be either grieved or happy about future things which perhaps may
never happen. But it is human to be deluded by such imaginations, and the sign
of a weak soul to be led on by suggestions of the enemy. For he does not care
whether he overcomes you by love of the present or fear of the future.
Let not your heart be troubled, therefore, nor let it be afraid. Believe in Me
and trust in My mercy. When you think you are far from Me, then often I am very
near you. When you judge that almost all is lost, then very often you are in the
way of gaining great merit.
All is not lost when things go contrary to your wishes. You ought not judge
according to present feelings, nor give in to any trouble whenever it comes, or
take it as though all hope of escape were lost. And do not consider yourself
forsaken if I send some temporary hardship, or withdraw the consolation you
desire. For this is the way to the kingdom of heaven, and without doubt it is
better for you and the rest of My servants to be tried in adversities than to
have all things as you wish. I know your secret thoughts, and I know that it is
profitable for your salvation to be left sometimes in despondency lest perhaps
you be puffed up by success and fancy yourself to be what you are not.
What I have given, I can take away and restore when it pleases Me. What I give
remains Mine, and thus when I take it away I take nothing that is yours, for
every good gift and every perfect gift is Mine.
If I send you trouble and adversity, do not fret or let your heart be downcast.
I can raise you quickly up again and turn all your sorrow into joy. I am no less
just and worthy of great praise when I deal with you in this way.
If you think aright and view things in their true light, you should never be so
dejected and saddened by adversity, but rather rejoice and give thanks,
considering it a matter of special joy that I afflict you with sorrow and do not
spare you. "As the Father hath loved Me, so also I love you," I said to My
disciples, and I certainly did not send them out to temporal joys but rather to
great struggles, not to honors but to contempt, not to idleness, but to labors,
not to rest but to bring forth much fruit in patience. Do you, My child,
remember these words.
