Answer to prayer, or imagination?

[Anna K.]

Dear friends,

Hopefully my question is not disrespectful in any way, but how does one tell, when, after praying to a Saint, the answer or guidance one believes to have recieved, is truly from God, and not one's own imagination or self-will.

Probably the answer lies in asking one's spiritual father, but I don't have one yet... the prayer was for guidance in where to go search for a Church.

I don't want to be disrespectful towards the Saint and not believe what I received, but is there anything you can tell me for guidelines? I don't trust my thoughts and inclinations, and definitely not my feelings at this age anymore...

Thankful for your insights

In Christ
Anna

[Andreas Moran]

I'm not qualified to help but I think you are quite right to be cautious and this is not disrespectful to the saint. But you say you have received some answer. One way of approaching this is to reflect on how you felt when you received this answer. Did you feel calm and at peace, or not. Things from God give peace; other things leave us with some feeling of agitation. This is what I was taught. I hope the Fathers here will be able to help but I will pray for you.

[Mary]

Dear Anna,

Do not be afraid. God is guiding you. How could He not when you're seeking Him? Joining the Orthodox Church was probably the only major event in my life. And I agonized over it, because I knew it would be a final kind of thing, that there would be no turning back. That's when I took a look at my past life and noticed that God had guided me even during the times that seeking Him wasn't a priority in my life. Surely, He wouldn't abandon me, when more than ever, all I wanted was to be closer to Him?

Well, that was the simple logic I used, and I was so good at convincing myself. =) But then, simple minds need only simple convincings.

When you pray to a Saint, whatever they give you, is from God anyway. Can you trust God? If you can, you can trust His Saints too.

One more thing, my friend told me another simple way of figuring out if I"m doing what I want or what God wants, although this may be different in different situations. Usually, doing what God wants is really hard at first, but brings much peace to the soul later. But doing whatever I want, is easier at first, and destroys my peace later. We're not always going to make the right choices, so we just have to keep an eye on that Peace Factor, and if it's not there, confess, repent and start over.

I suppose, eventually, one gets good at making the right choices. =)

In Christ,
Mary.

[Anna K.]

Thank you Andreas and Mary!

I was happy and felt sure at that time - I visited a Church and a nun "happened" to show me the relics of the Saint whom I had turned to for help - and I deeply felt like it was an invitation.

But thoughts and doubts started to come and go as days went by..


But I'm taking my time - a school in trust in God's will.
In Christ
Anna

[Andreas Moran]

Mary is right, of course - the correct choice isn't necessarily the easiest one.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Anna, I always ask myself a couple of questions.

Is the answer in accordance with Christ's words, will what I do harm anyone, is it good? And then patience. If the answer is really from God and not just something that you want and that your mind is deciding for you, it will become clear. As Mary says. Trust God. Nothing that is wrong or harmful will ever be from Him.

Effie

[Mary]

Thank you Andreas and Mary!

I was happy and felt sure at that time - I visited a Church and a nun "happened" to show me the relics of the Saint whom I had turned to for help - and I deeply felt like it was an invitation.

But thoughts and doubts started to come and go as days went by..


But I'm taking my time - a school in trust in God's will.
In Christ
Anna

So, you did not know they had the relics of that particular saint when you went to visit?! =) That's cool!! =)

I think the Saints, they pursue us, just like Christ does. They are faithful. And they love us. Oh, I love the Saints!! When all these 'little' miracles start to happen, where tiny little details fall into place, it makes me feel like a little child, and I just want to clap my hands and squeal with delight. Those are the times that I regret that I'm all growed up and have to be dignified! =(

While you wait, go visit again, Anna! =)

In Christ,
Mary.

Mary

[Anna K.]

So, you did not know they had the relics of that particular saint when you went to visit?!

No - I didn't - I also didn't know that morning I went there (took another route to work to see their service-timetible at the door) it was his Feast day (different Church-calendar)!


When all these 'little' miracles start to happen, where tiny little details fall into place, it makes me feel like a little child, and I just want to clap my hands and squeal with delight.

That's exactly how I felt :D


While you wait, go visit again, Anna! =)

I have and I will...

Effie, thank you also for your post about Christ's words. The question about the harming of someone is important but also very difficult to know, though.

Andreas, it's good that you reminded me of Mary's note about the easy or difficult alternatives - but as Mary said, the "difficulty" and "easiness" seems to switch sides along the way.
Only time will tell in which phase of the process I am now - in the beginning when the right choice seems more difficult or past that when the wrong one looks harder to accept - although I do have a hunch... we'll see.

In Christ
Anna

[Nina]

No - I didn't - I also didn't know that morning I went there (took another route to work to see their service-timetible at the door) it was his Feast day (different Church-calendar)!
In Christ
Anna

Dear Anna,

I am soooo curious to know. Is it St. John the Baptist the saint you mention, St. Seraphim of Sarov? If there is a reason for you to keep the saint's anonymity, I will understand, otherwise, please share the name, pleaaaase.

[Anna K.]

Nina, of course you already guessed. So I don't think he would mind; here goes:

St Seraphim of Sarov.

In Christ
Anna

[Nina]

I love that Saint! :) Go for it!

[Andreas Moran]

I confess I too was curious about which saint it was. I love St Seraphim - he so understands us and understands our weaknesses. He always listens. He promised that after his repose, 'if a person comes to my grave and calls on me, I will hear'. When I want something, I stand in front of his icon, light a candle (he loved candles) and say, 'Batiushka Seraphim: I cannot come to your grave or to where your relics now lie. But please hear me anyway',and I pray to him. And he hears. Thank God for St Seraphim! What a Father in God he is for all who love him!