I pray that the grace of God will overshadow you and give you sufficient strength to confront our wicked ego, the dreadful root of all the evil activities of polymorphous evil. Do not be afraid of the devil’s pressure, my child. The power of our God is so mighty that it helps unreservedly those who want to fight using it. The devil’s power is not trivial, but God miraculously protects us wretches. Have courage in the struggle, my child; study the law of God; say the sanctifying and salvific Jesus prayer, and hurl yourself into the fire of the battle. God will reward this struggle of yours with alleviation—as has already happened countless times—with high hopes for an eternal, bright future. Do not lose heart when facing any diabolical passion, no matter how gigantic it may look, for wherever God intervenes, the devil’s opposition is overcome.
Elder Ephraim of Arizona
