That We Should Draw Great Courage and Confidence for Struggling with Temptations from the Consideration That God Is Looking at Us

IT will help us also much towards keeping up great courage and strength in temptations and struggling manfully against them, to consider that God is looking at us. When a good soldier is in the field fighting against the enemy, and comes to see that the emperor or commander in chief is looking on and enjoying the sight of the courage with which he fights, he gathers great strength and spirit for the struggle. Now this is the case in our spiritual combats, in sober earnestness and truth. When we are fighting against temptations, we must make account that we are in a theater, surrounded and encompassed by angels and all the heavenly court, they looking on, awaiting the success; and that the president and judge of our struggling and fighting is Almighty God. This is the reflection made by the saints, founded on those words of the holy Gospel: Lo, the angels came and ministered to him (Matt. iv. 11). In that temptation and spiritual combat of Christ with the devil, the angels were looking on; and when the victory was complete, they began to minister to Him and sing the praise of the victory.

We read of the blessed St. Anthony that on one occasion he was grievously beaten and kicked by the devils, when, lifting up his eyes, he saw the roof of his cell open, and a ray of light stream in, so wonderful that at its presence all the devils fled and the pain of his wounds left him; and with heartfelt sighs he said to the Savior, Who then appeared to him: “Where wert Thou, good Jesus, where wert Thou, when I was so mauled by the enemy? Why wert not Thou here at the beginning of the attack, to stop it or to heal all my wounds?” To whom the Lord answered and said: “Anthony, I was there from the beginning, but I was looking to see how thou behavedst in the fight; and because thou didst combat manfully, I will always aid thee and make thy name great all over the round of the earth.” Thus we are a spectacle to God and the angels and to the whole heavenly court. Who, then, will not pluck up heart to fight vigorously and valiantly before such a theater? And besides, since God’s eyes being upon us means God’s help given us, we should go on further to consider that not only is God looking upon us as Judge, to give us reward and recompense if we are victorious, but also as Father and Patron, to favor and aid us that we may come out victors. The eyes of the Lord range all over the earth, and give strength to all who hope in him (II Chron. xvi. 9). He is ever at my right hand that I may not slip (Psalm xv. 8). In the Fourth Book of Kings Holy Scripture recounts how the king of Syria sent the whole strength of his army with chariots and horsemen to march upon the city of Dothain, where the Prophet Eliseus lived, to take him; and his servant Gieri, rising in the morning and seeing such a multitude upon him, was terrified and cried aloud to Eliseus, telling him of what was going on. Oh, dear, my lord, what shall we do? (vi. 15). He thought his master and he were lost men. The prophet said to him: Fear not, for there are more with us than with them. And he begged God to open the man’s eyes to see. He opened his eyes, and he saw the whole mountain covered with horsemen and chariots of fire in their defense, at which he was much comforted. With this we also should be comforted. Put me, O Lord, by thy side, and let any man’s hand who willeth fight against me (Job xvii. 3), said holy Job. And the Prophet Jeremy: The Lord is with me, and like a strong man of war fighteth for me: I have nothing to fear from my enemies, because without doubt they shall fall and be confounded (xx. 11). St. Jerome, on that saying of the prophet: Lord, thou hast crowned us as with the buckler of thy good will (Psalm v.

13): says: “Observe that there in the world a buckler is one thing, and a crown is another; but with God they are as one thing because the Lord, in defending us with the buckler of His good will, sends us His protection and aid; this His buckler and protection is our crown and victory.” If God be with us, who shall be against us? (Rom. viii. 31).