It Is Not God's Will That We Follow the Feeling of Pains in Sorrow and Mourning for Them
Julian of Norwich teaches that we should not dwell on our feelings of pain but focus on the everlasting joy that God offers us.
Julian of Norwich shares a profound spiritual experience where she alternates between moments of deep peace and joy in God's presence, and times of heaviness and weariness in life. She emphasizes the importance of faith, hope, and charity as sources of comfort during difficult times, highlighting the need to trust in God's sovereignty and love. Julian reflects on the cyclical nature of experiencing both joy and pain, noting that God's love remains constant regardless of our circumstances, and encourages holding onto eternal joy amidst passing pain.
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AND after this He shewed a sovereign ghostly pleasance in my soul. I was fulfilled with the everlasting sureness, mightily sustained without any painful 34 dread. This feeling was so glad and so ghostly that I was in all peace and in rest, that there was nothing in earth that should have grieved me. This lasted but a while, and I was turned and left to myself in heaviness, and weariness of my life, and irksomeness of myself, that scarcely I could have patience to live. There was no comfort nor none ease to me but faith, hope, and charity; and these I had in truth, but little in feeling.
And anon after this our blessed Lord gave me again the comfort and the rest in soul, in satisfying and sureness so blissful and so mighty that no dread, no sorrow, no pain bodily that might be suffered should have distressed me. And then the pain shewed again to my feeling, and then the joy and the pleasing, and now that one, and now that other, divers times--I suppose about twenty times. And in the time of joy I might have said with Saint Paul: Nothing shall dispart me from the charity of Christ; and in the pain I might have said with Peter: Lord, save me: I perish!
This Vision was shewed me, according to mine understanding, [for] that it is speedful to some souls to feel on this wise: sometime to be in comfort, and sometime to fail and to be left to themselves. God willeth that we know that He keepeth us even alike secure in woe and in weal. And for profit of man's soul, a man is sometime left to himself; although sin is not always the cause: for in this time I sinned not wherefore I should be left to myself--for it was so sudden. Also I deserved not to have this blessed feeling.
But freely our Lord giveth when He will; and suffereth us [to be] in woe sometime. And both is one love. 35 For it is God's will that we hold us in comfort with all our might: for bliss is lasting without end, and pain is passing and shall be brought to nought for them that shall be saved. And therefore it is not God's will that we follow the feelings of pain in sorrow and mourning for them, but that we suddenly pass over, and hold us in endless enjoyment.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the nature of spiritual comfort
- The contrast between joy and pain
- The purpose of experiencing both states
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II
- Understanding God's will in our suffering
- The role of faith, hope, and charity
- The significance of being left to oneself
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III
- The eternal nature of bliss versus the temporary nature of pain
- The importance of focusing on lasting joy
- Encouragement to embrace God's love in all circumstances
Key Quotes
“For it is God's will that we hold us in comfort with all our might: for bliss is lasting without end, and pain is passing and shall be brought to nought for them that shall be saved.” — Julian of Norwich
“And therefore it is not God's will that we follow the feelings of pain in sorrow and mourning for them, but that we suddenly pass over, and hold us in endless enjoyment.” — Julian of Norwich
“God willeth that we know that He keepeth us even alike secure in woe and in weal.” — Julian of Norwich
Application Points
- Seek to find comfort in God's presence during times of sorrow.
- Remember that both joy and pain serve a purpose in our spiritual growth.
- Focus on the eternal joy that God promises rather than the temporary nature of our suffering.