THEOSISGregory the Great
You shall no longer remember your suffering; it will fade away like waters that recede. Job 11:16. The mind feels the burdens of this earthly existence with greater intensity when it overlooks the blessings that await in the future. It becomes mired in regret, unable to perceive the rewards reserved for those who endure; thus, overwhelmed by the trials faced, it mistakes these trials for insurmountable grief until they cease. However, when one elevates their thoughts towards eternal truths and directs the soul's gaze upon those immutable promises, they recognize that all that is temporal amounts to little. Though they endure the struggles of this life, they find solace in the understanding that everything is transient, as if it never occurred at all.
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The deeper they delve into inner joy, the less they are affected by external suffering. Therefore, Sophar, with boldness, instructs those he sees as lesser and calls them to righteousness, revealing how trivial the chastisement appears to a virtuous individual. In essence, he conveys that experiencing the enduring joy within can swiftly alleviate outer pain. He aptly compares the trials of this life to "waters that shall pass away"; for the passing of tribulations does not overwhelm the minds of God’s chosen, but rather it ebbs and flows with a hint of sorrow. While such trials may draw tears from the heart, they cannot erase the assurance of salvation. It may also occur that not only do external afflictions bruise, but the righteous may also be beset by temptations from evil spirits, leading to torment both outside and within. Yet, divine grace remains constant; for, in times of trial, we are cared for more watchfully by grace. When one begins to feel enveloped in darkness due to temptation, the inner light is rekindled once more.