Nothing is wasted where God is concerned. God can use everything in our lives for redemptive purposes. Tikhon (Timothy) of Zadonsk (1724-1783) was born into extreme poverty in Russia. He spent his childhood in hard peasant labor in exchange for a daily slice of bread.
As a thirteen-year-old, he was given a state grant to enter seminary and excelled in his studies. He later became a bishop and monk in the Russian Orthodox Church. Though he lived in a monastery, he longed to minister among peasants and common people. He often traveled to neighboring villages to visit the poor and imprisoned. He was once engaged in conversation at a friend’s home with a nobleman who didn’t believe in God. Tikhon gently refuted the man’s atheism. The nobleman suddenly lashed out and struck him in the face. Tikhon responded by falling at the man’s feet and begging forgiveness for having led him to such irritation. Tikhon’s humble gesture stunned the nobleman and softened his heart, leading to his conversion. Tikhon said to any who would listen, “Forgiveness is better than revenge.” Fyodor Dostoevsky was sufficiently impressed with his character that he modeled the spiritual dynamism of Elder Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov after Tikhon and his teachings. Today’s prayer includes excerpts from Tikhon’s prayer:
Tikhon
Since you came into the world for all people, O Savior, therefore, you came for me.
Since you came into the world to save sinners,
therefore, you came to save me.
Since you came to find those who are lost,
therefore, you came to find me.
I should have come to you
yet I was so proud and so stubborn that you had to come to me.
You had to come down to earth as a tiny baby,
enduring poverty, discomfort, and danger, to reach me.
You had to walk dusty lanes,
enduring insults and persecution to reach me.
You had to suffer and die on a cross, to reach me.
Forgive my stubborn pride,
that I have put you to such trouble and such pain on my behalf.
How shall I repay your generosity?
How shall I repay you for all you have given me?
How shall I thank you?
Receive this prayer, as a token of enormous gratitude. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.