“If a man has no worries about himself at all for the sake of love toward God and the working of good deeds, knowing that God is taking care of him, this is a true and wise hope. But if a man takes care of his own business and turns to God in prayer only when misfortunes come upon him which are beyond his power, and then he begins to hope in God, such a hope is vain and false. A true hope seeks only the Kingdom of God... the heart can have no peace until it obtains such a hope. This hope pacifies the heart and produces joy within it.”
Quote by Seraphim of Sarov
Author
Seraphim of Sarov
Seraphim of Sarov (August 1, 1754 – January 14, 1833) is one of the most venerated saints in the Russian Orthodox Church, renowned as a mystic and spiritual guide. Born in Kursk to a merchant family, he entered the Sarov Monastery at age 17. After years of extreme asceticism in the forest, including living alone in a hut and praying for a thousand nights on a rock, he became known for his humility and wisdom. In his later years, he received visitors, offering counsel on acquiring the Holy Spirit and inner peace. His teachings, especially the 'Acquisition of the Holy Spirit,' have deeply influenced Orthodox spirituality. He was canonized in 1903, and his relics are enshrined at the Sarov Monastery. more