THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
What is signified by the numerous references in Scripture stating, "They shall call, and I will not hearken unto them"? It is noted about them that they do not seek God (Psalm 52:5). They may call, but not to the Lord. It is indeed possible to call to the one whom you cherish; to reach out to the one you wish to draw near, the one whose presence you long for. Conversely, if you beseech God for wealth, for an inheritance, or for earthly accolades, you are seeking the one whose favor you desire; however, you may find that God serves your greed rather than heeding your cry. God is indeed gracious if He grants you your requests. But if your desires are for wrongful things, is it not a greater kindness that He withholds them from you?
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Yet if He refrains from granting your wishes, you may feel He is no God to you, and you lament, "How often have I prayed, how many times have I asked, and He has not heard me!" But what did you request? Perhaps you wished for harm to come upon your neighbor! And what if he wished the same for you? Both you and he are created by God; you are both human, and God is the judge who listens to both, sustaining neither. You feel sorrowful because He has not heeded your plea against him; rather, rejoice that He has not heeded his plea against you.
Between hope and despair, the soul is troubled. One must be wary that hope does not bring harm, for if your hope for mercy is exceedingly great, you shall become vulnerable to judgment. On the other hand, beware of falling into despair, for if you believe that the severity of your actions cannot be forgiven, you will feel no repentance, and thus fall under the judgment of wisdom, which proclaims, “For this I will laugh at your destruction.” What then should the Lord do with those caught between both states? To those who grapple with hope, He advises: "Do not delay in turning to the Lord, nor postpone it day by day, for suddenly the wrath of the Lord may overtake you, and you will perish at the time of vengeance" (Sir. 5:8-9). To those despondent, what does He declare? "Whenever the wicked turn from their ways, I will remember none of their transgressions." Thus, for those burdened by despair, He has prepared the refuge of forgiveness, while for those seduced by presumptive hope, He has kept the timing of the end a mystery. The arrival of the final day remains uncertain. Would it not be ungrateful to delay your return, especially when you have this day at your disposal to make amends?