Strong Souls

Στιβαρῶν καὶ στεῤῥῶν ὑπάρχει ψυχῶν, τὸ διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων βαδίζειν τὴν τοῦ παρόντος αἰῶνος οδόν. Οὕτω γὰρ ὁ Κύριος κέχρηται τῇ εὐτονούσῃ. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ TB', Φιληκῃ Πρεσβυτερῳ Source: Migne PG 79.192d

Souls become robust and firm by walking on the way of the many trials of this present world. So the Lord has improved fortitude. Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 302, to Felix the Priest