Suffering and Struggle

Yet, you may say: “Rest?  What can he possibly be talking about?  All I feel is toil and pain, not rest.  When I try to follow his advice, suffering and struggle beset me on every side....”  My answer is simple.  You find this work of love painful because you are not accustomed to it.  Were you accustomed to it, and did you realize its value, you would not willingly give it up for all the material joys and rest in the world.  Yes, I know it is painful and toilsome.  Still, I call it ‘rest’ because your spirit does rest in freedom from doubt and anxiety about what it must do; and because during the actual time of prayer, it is secure in the knowledge that it will not greatly err.  And so, persevere in it with humility and great desire, for it is a work that begins on earth, but will go on without end into eternity.  I pray that the all-powerful Jesus may bring you and all those he has redeemed by his precious blood to his glory.  Amen.

– from The Cloude of Unknowyng, Anonymous, 14th century