This is a translation of a scriptural meditation from the Russian book, “Day by Day”. Lewis connection follows:
"Scripture: ‘If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that says to you, “Give Me a drink”, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’ (John: 4, 10)
"Meditation:
" ‘If you knew!’ Yes, often in life, when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, when we resist with all our might fulfilling what we should do, if we knew that this very thing contains for us the source of life, we would, of course, readily accept everything sent to us. So let us never disregard any obligation, even the most difficult one. If we encounter it that means that the Lord Himself is sending it for a purpose. And perhaps we will never receive that great spiritual treasure which the fulfillment of this particular obligation contains, if we miss the opportunity to carry out that which the Lord has appointed for us.
“We often have to bear insults and experience unfairness from those close to us, and, upset at such conduct towards us, we say that it is easier to submit to a trial sent by the Lord than to experience so much grief from people. But isn’t this also a trial sent by God? If He permits it that means that He sends it, and sends it for our betterment. So let us receive everything with love and submission, as if directly from the hands of the Savior Himself, and it will be easier for us. Let us ask Him to give us ‘living water’, even if it comes from a source that is bitter for us.”
Two Lewis quotes:
From a letter to Mary Shelburne of Aug 10, 1953:
“We are told that even those tribulations wh. fall upon us by necessity, if embraced for Christ’s sake, become as meritorious as ‘voluntary’ sufferings and every missed meal can be converted into a fast if taken in the right way.”
From a letter to Rhona Bodle of 28/4/55:
“We must believe that whatever our lot is it has been given us for the best.”
Dimitry
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)