Believe that you are full of sins but do not love the sins; do not worry yourself because of the sins, and so you will soon be holy and find rest for your soul. There are still many more sins in you than you are aware of. Yes, if God did not influence you by His Grace, you would do nothing but sin continually. We imagine that we do believe this; but everything goes to prove the contrary. How else comes it that we are so overwhelmed and downcast when we fail, or when the Lord lets us feel our sinfulness painfully and plainly as though we could touch it with our hands? Even when all the powers of sin and wickedness are active within you, and you are aware of nothing but temptations on every side, say sincerely to God: “Lord, in spite of this, I will not sin.” Withdraw your inward will gently but completely from the evil and incline yourself inwardly to God as best you can. In Him and with Him no evil can reach you. If you cannot do even this, then suffer quietly, as a rock suffers the raging of the sea and a tree hailstorms and thunder, until bright weather returns.
Gerhard Tersteegen
