A sign of true repentance is the acknowledgment that we deserve all the afflictions, visible and invisible, that come upon us, and even greater ones.

St. John Climacus

O, how needful it is that we entreat the Lord to give the soul His humble Holy Spirit! The lowly soul enjoys great peace, while the proud soul is a torment to herself.

St. Silouan the Athonite

But in dealing with all struggles as well as every virtue, patience is essential.  Not a single virtue can be accomplished without patience; it cannot be sustained without it.  He who is shaken in his virtue will not endure to the end and even that which was acquired will be lost.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

When struggles are replaced by consolations, and vice versa, they engender faith in God and indifference to the world.  Faith, having taken man by the hand, places him before God.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

The Christian is one who imitates Christ in thought, word, and deed, as far as is possible for human beings, believing rightly and blamelessly in the Holy Trinity. The lover of God is he who lives in communion with all that is natural and sinless, and as far as he is able neglects nothing good. The continent man is one who lives in the midst of temptations, snares, and turmoil, and who is eager to imitate with all his might those who are free from turmoil.

St. John Climacus

What does it mean to take up your cross? It means the willing acceptance, at the hand of Providence, of every means of healing, bitter though it may be, that is offered. Do great catastrophies fall on you? Be obedient to God’s will, as Noah was. Is sacrifice demanded of you? Give yourself into God’s hands with the same faith as Abram had when he went to sacrifice his son. Is your property ruined? Do your children die suddenly? Suffer it all with patience, cleaving to God in your heart, as Job did. Do your friends forsake you, and you find yourself surrounded by enemies? Bear it all without grumbling, and with faith that God’s help is at hand, as the apostles did.

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

A continuously happy life produces extremely unhappy consequences. In nature we see that there are not always pleasant springs and fruitful summers, and sometimes autumn is rainy and winter cold and snowy, and there is flooding and wind and storms, and moreover the crops fail and there are famine, troubles, sicknesses and many other misfortunes. All of this is beneficial so that man might learn through prudence, patience and humility. For the most part, in times of plenty he forgets himself, but in times of various sorrows he becomes more attentive to his salvation.

St. Ambrose of Optina

Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.

St. Leo the Great

When harmed, insulted or persecuted by someone, do not think of the present but wait for the future, and you will find he has brought you much good, not only in this life but also in the life to come.

St Mark the Ascetic 

We advance toward humility by means of trials. He who rests on his virtue without suffering tribulations has the door of pride open before him.

St. Isaac of Syria 

Everyone needs the fire of temptations in order to be tried and instructed in patience. One must look at things with the point of view that Divine Providence is caring for our salvation: one person requires more, another requires less trials for patience and instruction, and for another, the time has not yet come.

St. Macarius of Optina