orthodoxgladness:

The Lord brings up the soul of man, not removing him from meeting evil, but giving him the strength to overcome all evil. -St. Silouan the Athonite

Remove all of the trappings around you. All of the paper thin walls you build as your defense. All of the self-assured words of your own might. Here is where you truly stand: God and you and the Devil. And grasped in your hand is the gift of faith. Nothing else. Don’t be deceived – you have nothing else to cling to.