In my life, there’s a priest whose spiritual wisdom I deeply trust. He resides at the Feodorovsky Monastery in Gorodets. A few years ago, I visited him for advice about my work. I felt it was destroying me morally and spiritually. I wanted to quit, but I hesitated. I didn’t know how I’d live or what I could do next.

The priest never gave me direct answers. Instead, he would quote the Gospel or the teachings of the Church Fathers relevant to my situation. This time, he gave me two quotes: The first was, “Turn away from evil and do good…” The second: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

I interpreted his words this way: “Svetlana, leave your job, and blessings will rain down from heaven. Just go to church more often.”

So, I quit. Five months passed. No new job, no blessings from the heavens. “I must have misunderstood Father Dmitry,” I thought. I decided it was time to see him again and ask directly: “Where are my blessings? How do I move forward? Why aren’t your suggestions working?” I prepared a list of questions and called him to arrange a meeting.

“Yes, Svetlana, come. We’ll talk,” he said warmly. “But I’m no longer in Gorodets; I’m now serving in a village almost 200 kilometers away.”

“Two hundred kilometers? I don’t have a car. How will I get there?” Despite the inconvenience, I managed to make the journey to this remote village a few days later. The old monastery there was beautiful, and I settled into the pilgrim guesthouse before seeking out Father Dmitry. In the dining hall, I learned he had just left for Gorodets and wasn’t expected back until the end of the week. “You can wait for him,” they said. “In the meantime, you’re welcome to help out in the kitchen.”

Waiting for a week felt like a new challenge. I resolved to stay. During the day, I worked in the kitchen, and in the evenings, I attended church and sang in the choir. Adjusting to the monastery’s routine was tough. I was eager to get my answers and return home. Then, the long-awaited call came—Father Dmitry was returning soon, and we’d finally talk.

A few hours later, he arrived at the dining hall. “Svetlana, pour some tea and tell me what’s on your mind,” he said. I quickly made tea, sat down, and prepared to speak when another priest entered and announced, “Father, the bishop is calling for you. We’re leaving in three minutes.” I was stunned.

“Don’t worry, Svetlana,” Father Dmitry said. “Stay here at the monastery. I’ll return next week, and we’ll talk for sure.” And so, I stayed another week, continuing to help with various tasks: singing in the choir, drafting excursion texts about the monastery, and writing a script for a feast day celebration.

Weeks turned into a longer stay as Father Dmitry’s return was repeatedly postponed. By then, I stopped waiting for answers from him. Instead, I realized that God Himself had been answering me—not with words, but through circumstances. He was showing me what I could do with my life after changing careers.

This was the first time I fully trusted God. Over time, I found not only a new job but also a way to combine it with serving the Church. Today, I conduct tours at the monastery, sing in the choir, and help organize celebrations.

This journey taught me that God’s answers often come not in the form of direct solutions but through the opportunities and experiences He places in our path. Trusting in His guidance can lead us to places we never imagined—places where we discover not only answers but also purpose.

Original article: radiovera.ru/bez-otveta-ne-uedu-svetlana-bakulina.html