Embracing Spiritual Pain for Renewal
If you feel pain in your soul and heart, consider it not as something random or undesirable, but as a signal for deep inner renewal and correction. One approach is to constantly turn to God by attending church and engaging in sincere prayer—this helps open the heart to grace, even if it initially appears encased in insensitivity. For example, one source advises:"First of all, it is essential to attend church regularly, because during worship the grace of God flows in abundant waves. Therefore, our heart, even if it is bound by hardened insensitivity, will gradually soften. But this process is not automatic—you must continually call upon God, work on your heart, and ask: Lord, break my heart; Lord, reveal my sins to me; Lord, deliver me from them. And then the Lord will show us our sins." (source: link txt)Furthermore, the sensation of pain becomes the foundation for true repentance, which in itself represents profound contrition of the heart and humility of the soul, thereby fostering the birth of virtues. This is emphasized in another source:"Repentance is a heart that is contrite and humble; and elsewhere: To repent means to leave behind one’s former sins and to be contrite because of them." (source: link txt)It is also important not to seek to dull the sensitivity of the heart. Its tenderness—even if it sometimes leads to painful experiences—is like the sound of a musical instrument, where each string sometimes moans and at other times produces beautiful melodies. Reinforcing this idea, one text offers the following analogy:"And this living heart must be nurtured from a very early age; one must take care to keep the heart responsive, even though responsiveness brings not only the joy of connection but also the pain of interaction; ... The heart is like a musical instrument: its strings resonate richly, but one must be prepared for the fact that sometimes these strings will moan, and even tear with a painful cry; and then they must be restored..." (source: link txt)Thus, if you feel pain in your soul and heart, you should take the following steps:1. Constantly seek refuge in communion with God by attending worship services, praying, and asking for forgiveness for your sins.2. Embrace the experienced pain as an integral part of the spiritual journey, leading to purification and the inception of virtues.3. Do not attempt to suppress or ignore this sensory pain—spiritual contrition helps preserve the true responsiveness of the heart and supports further spiritual development.This approach not only aids in recognizing and overcoming inner turmoil but also transforms it into a source of spiritual growth and renewal.Supporting citation(s):"First of all, it is essential to attend church regularly, because during worship the grace of God flows in abundant waves. Therefore, our heart, even if it is bound by hardened insensitivity, will gradually soften. But this process is not automatic—you must continually call upon God, work on your heart, and ask: Lord, break my heart; Lord, reveal my sins to me; Lord, deliver me from them. And then the Lord will show us our sins." (source: link txt)"Repentance is a heart that is contrite and humble; and elsewhere: To repent means to leave behind one’s former sins and to be contrite because of them." (source: link txt)"And this living heart must be nurtured from a very early age; one must take care to keep the heart responsive, even though responsiveness brings not only the joy of connection but also the pain of interaction; ... The heart is like a musical instrument: its strings resonate richly, but one must be prepared for the fact that sometimes these strings will moan, and even tear with a painful cry; and then they must be restored..." (source: link txt)