Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 2.9

Of the lack of all comfort

1. It is no hard thing to despise human comfort when divine comfort is present. It is a great thing, very great, to be able to bear the loss both of human and divine comfort; and for the love of God willingly to bear exile of heart, and in nothing to seek oneself, nor to look to one's own merit. What great matter is it, if you are cheerful of heart and devout when favor comes to you? That is an hour wherein all rejoice. Pleasantly enough does he ride whom the grace of God carries. And what marvel, if he feels no burden who is carried by the Almighty, and is led onward by the Guide from on high?

 

2. We are willing to accept anything for comfort, and it is difficult for a man to be freed from himself. The holy martyr Laurence overcame the love of the world, and even of his priestly master, because he despised everything in the world that seemed to be pleasant; and for the love of Christ he calmly suffered even God's chief priest, Sixtus, whom he dearly loved, to be taken from him. Thus by the love of the Creator he overcame the love of man, and instead of human comfort he chose rather God's good pleasure. So also you should learn to resign any near and beloved friend for the love of God. Nor take it amiss when you have been deserted by a friend, knowing that we must all be parted from one another at last.

 

3. Mightily and long must a man strive within himself before he learns altogether to overcome himself, and to draw his whole affection towards God. When a man rests upon himself, he easily slips away unto human comforts. But a true lover of Christ, and a diligent seeker after virtue, falls not back upon those comforts, nor seeks such sweetness as may be tasted and handled, but desires rather hard exercises, and to undertake severe labors for Christ.

 

4. When, therefore, spiritual comfort is given by God, receive it with giving of thanks, and know that it is the gift of God, not your desert. Be not lifted up, rejoice not overmuch nor foolishly presume, but rather be more humble for the gift, more wary and more careful in all your doings; for that hour will pass away, and temptation will follow. When comfort is taken from you, do not straight away despair, but wait for the heavenly visitation with humility and patience, for God is able to give you back greater favor and consolation. This is not new nor strange to those who have made trial of the way of God, for with the great saints and the ancient prophets there was often this manner of change.
 

5. Wherefore one said when the favor of God was present with him, I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved, but he goes on to say what he felt within himself when the favor departed: You did turn Your face from me, and I was troubled. In spite whereof he in no way despairs, but the more instantly entreats God, and says, Unto You, O Lord, will I cry, and will pray unto my God; and then he receives the fruit of his prayer, and testifies how he has been heard, saying, the Lord heard me and had mercy upon me, the Lord was my helper. But wherein? You  have turned my heaviness into joy, You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. If it was thus with the great saints, we who are poor and needy ought not to despair if we are sometimes in the warmth and sometimes in the cold, for the Spirit comes and goes according to the good pleasure of His will. Wherefore holy Job said, You do visit him in the morning, and suddenly You do prove him.

 

6. Whereupon then can I hope, or wherein may I trust, save only in the great mercy of God, and the hope of heavenly grace? For whether good men are with me, godly brethren or faithful friends, whether holy books or beautiful discourses, whether sweet hymns and songs, all these help but little, and have but little savor when I am deserted by God's favor and left to my own poverty. There is no better remedy, then, than patience and denial of self, and an abiding in the will of God.

 

7. I have never found any man so religious and godly, but that he felt sometimes a withdrawal of the divine favor, and lack of fervor. No saint was ever so filled with rapture, so enlightened, but that sooner or later he was tempted. For he is not worthy of the great vision of God, who, for God's sake, has not been exercised by some temptation. For temptation is wont to go before as a sign of the comfort that shall follow, and heavenly comfort is promised to those who are proved by temptation. As it is written, To him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life.

 

8. Divine comfort is given that a man may be stronger to bear adversities. And temptation follows, lest he be lifted up because of the benefit. The devil sleeps not; your flesh is not yet dead; therefore, cease you not to make yourself ready unto the battle, for enemies stand on your right hand and on your left, and they are never at rest.