In this rare video recording, the recently canonized Romanian Elder, Saint Dionisie Ignat of Mount Athos explains why God sometimes leaves our prayers seemingly unanswered and how earthly hardships are ultimately for the benefit of our eternal souls. He also shows us why we must give thanks in all circumstances, and how placing our complete hope in the Lord transforms our struggles into eternal salvation.
Saint Dionisie Ignat of Mount Athos fell asleep in the Lord on May 11, 2004 and was officially canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on August 31, 2025.
Video source: Mount Athos, Greece, 19.12.2002
Watch the full video on Mănăstirea Petru Vodă Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyJlCT6y-_o
St. Dionisie:
We must place all our hope in God, because we can only accomplish things with God. For God Himself says: “Without Me you can do nothing” [John 15:5]. That is to say, in spiritual matters, if we do not place our hope in God’s mercy and help, we can do nothing; we are merely human.
For “as for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth” [Psalm 102(103):15]. What is grass? A little bit of heat comes… and you are nothing. But if in our spiritual vineyard you remain close to God… we have great help; the grace of the Holy Spirit supports us… God knows our weaknesses much better than we do ourselves…
“Oh, it hurts so much here…” God knows better than you how much it hurts, which is why He helps you if you bow down with humility: “Lord, I pray, help me because I cannot bear it anymore!” It is impossible for God not to help you! But if He does not help you immediately, He allows you to suffer for the benefit of your soul. Therefore He says: “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks” [1 Thessalonians 5:17-18].
“Look, my chest hurts here and there, and God isn’t helping me…” Do not say such a thing! From the very second you say: “Lord, help me!”, from that second He is with you… But He gives you what is beneficial, not just for your body… everything is for eternity.
God does help us in this world, He helps us… but not in a way that pulls us away from eternity. Rather, He helps so that you may attain eternal life through the blessings of this transient world. Often He does not grant you what you ask of Him at all, because, by the time He fulfills your desire, your goal will no longer be what it was at the beginning… Therefore God, being good, does not grant it, because what you ask for would become a spiritual abyss for you.
That is why the Holy Scripture says: “Pray without ceasing (because that is our duty), in everything give thanks!” God has granted the request you made… He has fulfilled it. Even if it seems He hasn’t fulfilled it, God fulfills it according to His Holy wisdom. He fulfills it so that you may gain a greater spiritual benefit for eternity. That is why the word says: “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks!”
Give thanks to God, because you prayed to Him: “Lord, help me!” and He did not fulfill it… Somebody was saying: “I prayed so much to God to help me win the lottery, and I didn’t win…” Well, no… God already knows that you will not use the money you win in a good way, so… Only God does not make mistakes. Everyone on this earth and everything that has breath has flaws.
He always strives to help us in this transient life full of hardships, but He directs us primarily so that we may attain eternity. Because this life comes to an end. No matter how long it may be… You might live 90 or 100 years, but you cannot live much longer. But the afterlife is eternal, without end.
And God desires that, through the tribulations of this passing life, we might inherit eternity. Therefore, we must place all our hope in God, because only God can help us.
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