Chapter 99

Do Not Be Weighed Down by Worldly Cares

You write that worldly care weighs on you so much that it does not even let you pray. This is an enemy’s deception. Since we need: shelter, clothing, food and other things, we must also acquire them; we must therefore think about this and make an effort. And there is nothing sinful in this. God has willed to arrange our life thus. But to this blameless need the enemy, creeping in, grafts the sinful—this is unceasing worry, which weighs down the head and gnaws at the heart. Against this illness are directed all the teachings of the Savior about not being anxious: Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself and further (Cf.: Matt. 6:34). This does not mean that you should do nothing; rather, while doing everything, you should not be tormented by excessive worry, which adds nothing but only torments. Excessive cares are sinful because they want to arrange and acquire everything themselves without God—because they then teach us to rely on hope placed in what we have acquired and in our own abilities exclusively without God’s providence, and through both of these things arrange to consider worldly goods as the chief goal and present life as the end, not extending our thoughts about the future life. Do you see what a god-fighting spirit moves in this excessive care! Take from this the impulse to fight this evil, as you would fight if the enemy, approaching, suggested to you soul-destruction. If you do not fight, worry will consume you entirely; if you fight, it will depart, like any other spiritual weakness when one fights against it. How to fight? Begin, and you will learn. Begin first of all to purify your prayer from this worry, and then purify all your deeds as well, so that your deeds will go their own way, and there will be no worry along with them.

How do you purify your prayer from worry? As soon as worry comes during prayer, drive it out; it will come again, drive it out again. And always thus. Never hold worry during prayer—as soon as you realize it has come, drive it out. In this lies the struggle! And you will see the fruit. Moreover, before prayer, resolve not to submit to worry if it comes during prayer, and protect yourself with this—strengthen this intention with various thoughts. You will see the fruit—only do not lose heart, but keep fighting!

I will say nothing more, and there is no need. Practice will teach you all things.

(Letter 287. Vol. 2, pp. 139–140)