Letter 38

To the same person. He who in present circumstances has asked of the things that come from God, and has hoped, and has obtained, is taught, concerning the things to come which human nature needs, to hope in God, who has promised to give those things also. Therefore even now He announces beforehand, before the events, and many years in advance, and He fulfills the promises, and this time and again. For in this way the experience of the divine truth, which comes about many times, confirms for us the hope set upon the future that has been truly promised. Just as, then, having asked many times you obtained, and received experience of the divine compassion, and condescension, and bounty of giving, so too, even if you are not quickly heard, [persevere] through your supplication, until God should will to arise and to give you as much as you need, or even beyond your need. For God is able, and willing, to do for us in excess of the things we ask or conceive [cf. Ephesians 3:20: "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think"].

Ὁ ἐν τοῖς παροῦσι τῶν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ δεηθεὶς, καὶ ἐλπίσας, καὶ τυχὼν, διδάσκεται περὶ τῶν μελλόντων, ὧν δεῖται ἡ ἀνθρωπίνη φύσις, ἐλπίζειν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν, τὸν κἀκεῖνα δώσειν ὑποσχόμενον. Διὸ καὶ νῦν ἐπαγγέλλεται πρὸ τῶν πραγμάτων, καὶ πολλοῖς ἔμπροσθεν χρόνοις, καὶ πληροῖ τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, καὶ τοῦτο πλεονάκις. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἡ πολλάκις γινομένη πεῖρα τῆς θείας ἀληθείας, τὴν εἰς τὸ μέλλον ἡμῖν ἐλπίδα τὴν ἀληθῶς ἐπηγγελμένην βεβαιοῖ. Ὥσπερ οὖν πλεονάκις αἰτήσας ἔτυχες, καὶ πεῖραν ἐδέξω τῆς θείας εὐσπλαγχνίας, καὶ συγκαταβάσεως, καὶ μεγαλοδωρεᾶς, οὕτω κἂν μὴ ταχέως ἐπακουσθῇς, διὰ τῆς δεήσεως, μέχρις ἂν ὁ Θεὸς θελήσῃ ἀναστῆναι, καὶ δοῦναί σοι, ὅσον χρήζεις, ἢ καὶ ὑπὲρ τὴν χρείαν. Ἐκ περιττοῦ γὰρ ὧν αἰτούμεθα, ἢ νοοῦμεν, δύναται ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ βούλεται ποιῆσαι ἡμῖν.