The Practice of the Presence of God: Day 21~Letters: 14-16

In the fourteenth letter, Brother Lawrence writes to express his deep concern for Rev. Mother’s prolonged suffering. He encourages her to shift her perspective, seeing her trials as divine tokens of God's love. Rather than seeking relief through human remedies, he advises her to wholly surrender her anguish into the hands of God, trusting that her resignation may bring her healing.

Moving to the fifteenth letter, Brother Lawrence shares his own experiences of intense suffering. He discloses that during his tribulations, rather than praying for relief, he sought the strength to endure his pain with grace and love. He reflects on the joy of suffering alongside God, suggesting that true paradise is found in communion with Him, even amidst trials.

In the sixteenth letter, Brother Lawrence explores the concept that everything God allows in our lives—both joys and sorrows—is for our ultimate good. He invites us to view our afflictions through the lens of God’s profound love, recognizing that understanding this love lessens the bitterness of our trials. He calls us to prioritize knowing God above all else, arguing that deepening this knowledge naturally leads to a more fervent love for Him, which transcends our circumstances.