I do not say these things to console or to comfort myself

"I do not say these things to console or to comfort myself, for I have made 
up my mind, as long as I breathe, and as long as it shall seem good to God 
that I remain in this present life, to fulfil this ministry, and, whether 
any one attends or not, to do the work allotted to me. But since there are 
some who weaken the hands of many, and who, besides that they bring forward 
nothing useful for our present life, and relax the zeal of others, by 
derision and ridicule, saying: "Cease counselling; leave off warning; they 
do not attend to you: you have no fellow-feeling with them;"----since there 
are those who say such things,----purposing to expel this wicked and morose 
idea, this satanic counsel, from the minds of many, I address you thus at 
length. I know that such things were said even yesterday by many who, when 
they saw certain |4 people spending time in taverns, said, laughing and 
deriding: "Are these fully persuaded? These are they who never enter a 
tavern! Have they all arrived at wisdom?" What dost thou say, O man? Is it 
this that we undertook to do, to enclose all in the net in one day? For if 
ten only were persuaded----if only five,----if even one,----is not this 
sufficient to console us? For my part I can even go beyond this. Suppose 
that none were persuaded by our words, although it is impossible that the 
word spoken to so many hearers can be fruitless----suppose, however, even 
this,----still the word would not be without profit."

St. John Chrysostom, On the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. 


"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout 
for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be 
joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You 
will surround him as with a shield."  Psalm 5:11-12

Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.