2 Chronicles 16:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The cross and afflictions serve as effective remedies against the temptations of the adversary, just as the surgeon’s incision proves valuable; however, should you neglect to engage with them, you render them ineffective for yourself. What brings discomfort to the body acts as a cure for the spirit: ailments may bruise the flesh but can restore the soul; frailty of the body diminishes the grip of lust. Why not embrace them with gratitude? When water is delivered to extinguish a house engulfed in flames, the homeowner welcomes it as assistance in quelling the fire. Similarly, when the flames of sin ignite within your heart, the Lord graciously showers you with an abundance of trials. Alas, for those who, amidst their suffering, fail to transform their lives and thus forfeit the means of salvation provided to them. This is why Holy Scripture expresses astonishment, stating: ‘And Asa became sick in his feet in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, and his sickness ascended to his upper body; but in his affliction, he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.’ This outlines the royal path of the Lord’s Cross, which leads to everlasting life.