Thirteenth Letter
Trust in God's providence and love for you, even in the midst of suffering, and seek strength from Him to bear your pains with joy and courage.
Brother Lawrence encourages full and complete confidence in God for both body and soul, emphasizing that our sufferings are evidence of God's love towards us. He advises to abandon reliance on human remedies and fully surrender to God's providence, suggesting that perfect trust in Him may bring about healing. Brother Lawrence reminds that God sometimes allows physical ailments to heal the soul, urging to ask for strength to endure pain for the love of God and to find joy and courage in suffering for His sake.
Text
To the same he exhorts for fuller and entire confidence in God, for body and soul.
I AM in pain to see you suffer so long; what gives me some ease, and sweetens the feeling I have of your griefs, is that they are proofs of GOD's love towards you: see them in that view, and you will bear them more easily. As your case is, 'tis my opinion that you should leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the providence of GOD; perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a perfect trust in Him to cure you. Since notwithstanding all your cares, physic has hitherto proved unsuccessful, and your malady still increases, it will not be tempting GOD to abandon yourself in His hands, and expect all from Him.
I told you, in my last, that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage then: make a virtue of necessity: ask of GOD, not deliverance from your pains, but strength to bear resolutely, for the love of Him, all that He should please, and as long as He shall please.
Such prayers, indeed, are a little hard to nature, but most acceptable to GOD, and sweet to those that love Him. Love sweetens pains; and when one loves GOD, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage. Do you so, I beseech you; comfort yourself with Him, who is the only Physician of all our maladies. He is the FATHER of the afflicted, always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we imagine: love Him then, and seek not consolation elsewhere: I hope you will soon receive it. Adieu. I will help you with my prayers, poor as they are, and shall be, always, yours in our LORD.
Sermon Outline
- Confidence in God
- Human remedies are not enough
- Prayer for strength to bear suffering
- God's love is proven through our sufferings
- Resignation to God's providence
- Physician has failed, trust in God
- God's providence is the only cure
- Pray for strength, not deliverance
- Love sweetens pains
Key Quotes
“Love sweetens pains; and when one loves GOD, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage.” — Brother Lawrence
“He is the FATHER of the afflicted, always ready to help us.” — Brother Lawrence
“I told you, in my last, that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul.” — Brother Lawrence
Application Points
- Make a conscious choice to trust in God's providence and love for you, even in the midst of suffering.
- Seek strength from God to bear your pains with joy and courage.
- Love God and seek consolation in Him alone, for He loves you infinitely more than you imagine.