Elder Ephraim of Filotheou & Arizona From Counsels from the Holy Mountain.

Since we have pride—whether apparent or hidden with¬out realizing it—God, desiring to purify us from this stinking condition, raises a storm in order to cast out all the “dregs” which have accumulated mainly in a time of spiritual negligence.

All kinds of rubbish and refuse are thrown into the sea, especially in the harbor, and if there were no storms, the sea would become a source of pestilence. But the fact that the sea is pure and wholesome is due to the occasional storms.

Spiritually, the same thing happens with our soul: with the sea of our soul. Refuse accumulates little by little from our various passions and careless deeds, and the devil throws in his own trash, too. We do not see how much refuse has accumulated. God knows, however, and since He wants to purify us, He stirs up storms in proportion to the accumulation of refuse, and thus He purifies the sea of our soul. Sometimes, after we pass through a temptation with patience, we see that our soul is calmed, joyful, and light as air. On our part, we must be careful not to accumulate refuse, so that storms of corresponding magnitude do not become necessary.

Storms are stirred up also in saints, but those are of another nature, they have another purpose; sometimes a trial helps them become more holy, or it is for their greater glory, or it is so that they may glorify God more, or it has to do with the storms raised against Orthodoxy, etc.

See to it, my child, that you have much humility, obedience to the advice of your Elder, love for all, and that you never trust your thoughts, but follow faithfully all of your Elder’s suggestions.

Elder Ephraim of Filotheou & Arizona From Counsels from the Holy Mountain