Saint John the Ladder is an amazing Church Father who writes about many worthy topics. And in His book the Church titled “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” he writes about one topic which I think is very relevant to this time.
It helps me to think about how to respond to the unexpected event that is the coronavirus. How do we respond to unsettling news, and other such events to which we have no control over?
Well, St John the Ladder has thoughts in this book addressed to those who want to struggle to be close to Christ. Those who do not want to waste their life; and wish to cherish the love of God granted to each one of us in the gift that is life.
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Here’s a basic outline I made on the thoughts he gives on how to think of cowardice:
Cowardice is the daughter of unbelief as
It gives birth to fear
It is a rehearsing of dangers beforehand, it is afraid of “milk that has not yet been spilled”
It is a loss of assurance in God
It vainly trusts in itself
No matter how cowardice attacks, whether in soul or body –
Maybe it passes through body and we feel afraid and it passes to disturb our soul or vice versa
My Thoughts
St John’s words made me realize being a coward is more than feeling scared. It’s a position the soul takes to be in bondage. To not be at rest in God, as he mentions, “the loss of assurance.”
It “disturbs our soul,” while we should otherwise be found still and at peace in soul. And the most terrifying thing is that it leads us to fear what is not God. Which, he will dive into, and I will go ahead and give the outline now on his advice about cowardice.
Instead of being cowardly…
1. Confront fear head on
Go to your fears and arm yourself with prayer
Look your fear in the face and call on the name of Jesus
If you stay in thankfulness for the deliverance he will give you
He will continue to protect you for your entire life
Let us charge into the good life with joy and with love
Without being afraid of any of our enemies
Though unseen, they are able to look into the face if your soul
And if they see your soul altered by fear
They are able to take up arms against you all the more fiercely
But no one fights a resolute fighter
2. Humble yourself before the Lord
It is impossible to overcome fear instantly But it yields more quickly when we mourn
For those who mourn are not subject to fear
Have the disposition of the beatitudes
Be poor in Spirit. Draw near to God and He will to you. It is here that we are protected
Actual freedom from cowardice comes when we eagerly accept all unexpected events with a contrite heart
3. Trust in the Lord
The servant of the Lord fears His Master alone. If we don’t fear God, then we will fear even our own shadow
Let us who are weak have the courage to offer our infirmity and natural weakness to Christ with unhesitant faith
Confess to Him and you will certainly obtain His help
Final Thoughts
Amazing advice from an incredible saint and worthy example of what it means to live in the likeness of Christ.
It is especially in this time that I want to be adamant in arming myself with prayer. For my loved ones and my enemies alike. What the world needs most right now, as he mentioned, is bold Christians full of joy and love.
I’m convinced that we cannot be courageous if we do not heed his advice and have the “disposition of the beatitudes.”
How can we be unafraid if we do not imitate Christ, and also the saints and Angels in rejoicing with heaven? Especially in times of calamity!
Cowardice makes us afraid, and fear renders us worthless. We certainly learn from Scripture that fear is our enemy. Because it is not truth and it is not love. It is a lie! A lie intended to destroy us.
But Christ wants us to have life and to be abundantly close to our Maker. So let us join the struggle against fear and “eagerly accept all unexpected events with a contrite heart.”
My Prayer
Father, open the doors of repentance to us that we may be especially be close to You in this time. Help us to find rest in Your Spirit, as we embrace all the trials the virus brings with expectation and faith that You will deliver us from evil. You will surely use these tribulations for our good.
Help us not to forget what you have delivered us from, what we still need saved from, and that You promise to ultimately restore all those who hope in You to the fullness of the image of Christ.
Most of all, empower us to love others we encounter throughout this time, as You have loved us. Have mercy on us all, and deliver us from the spirit of fear and slothfulness. Make us brave and draw us closer to Your embrace.
In the Name of the Unoriganate Father, the Only Begotten Son, and the All Holy and Life Giving Spirit. Amen!
I guess I missed this post! Good thoughts Zach. Thanks for sharing. Confronting fear with joy knowing that love defeats it, yet at the same time doing so with humility … yeahhhh. Amen.
I agree. Great post!