18/05/2026
Christ is Risen!
Some really edifying words on illness. Please read 📚
Q&A with the Clergy: How do we respond to illness?
The first thing to point out is that our illness or symptom can be minor, and we can panic and the problem becomes bigger than it needs to be. We may catastrophize the situation, a minor matter becomes a mountain, and this reaction can lead to additional suffering, both for the sufferer and for their family.
In these cases, sometimes the way we deal with the problem can lead to more suffering than the actual original problem. An old wise proverb put it as follows, “If they throw you a dagger, it makes all the difference if you catch it with the handle or with the blade”.
Of course, not all illnesses are minor, and our calling in life may be to suffer a serious illness and to grow spiritually through striving to be patient. It is important to remember that our Lord will never allow us to go through a suffering that we cannot bear.
The Apostle Paul expressed it as follows: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13). (The word “temptation” is a translation of the Greek word “πειρασμός”, which in Koini Greek can mean, depending on the context, both internal temptation to sin, or external affliction).
The Scriptures and the Church teach us that if we are faced with both minor or serious illnesses to trust in the Lord, and to be able to pray, “Your will be done”. If we are faced with an illness the Church encourages us to go to a good doctor, follow their advice and be obedient to them, but also to surrender the matter to Prayer and to the Lord. A nice Orthodox tradition is if a serious illness is diagnosed, that the family gets together, brings to their home a Priest, and together they do the Service of Holy Unction, which is a Sacrament specifically for illnesses.
Many ask, “Why does God allow illness and suffering?” Countless Christians though the ages have experienced the answer to this question, while they are going through the hardship they may struggle to see God’s love, but later they can understand that the hardship was a bitter medicine sent by God for their healing. Suffering can open our eyes, and we can then see and understand what we could not understand before.
Fr Ephraim from Arizona put it as follows: “God allows suffering so as to awaken us towards remembrance of Him, and though we beseech Him, he pretends that he does not hear us, so that we can cry out to Him more fervently and thus our heart can be sanctified… Without temptations pride would have turned us into demons, our good Father has allowed suffering, so as to protect us with humility, which will lighten the burden of our sins... No one has been saved in ease and without hardships. So if we are going through hardships, we should be glad, for this is the journey that was taken by those who were saved”.
Source: Lychnos
https://lychnos.org/current-lychnos/
