“I stood invisibly by your side, ready to help you if your faith were to waver."

Saint Anthony the Great went into the desert - the first of all ascetics - in order to fight the evil that existed in his heart. He did not run away from the world - he went into the desert for single combat.
And so, one day, by a destructive storm, temptations of all kinds came upon him. He fought desperately, with all his strength, and, finally, these forces in him were exhausted, not only spiritual, but also bodily, and he lay down on the bare ground, feeling that he could no longer fight.
And at that moment, the Savior Christ appeared before him, and all the darkness was enlightened by his presence, all horror departed. And then, powerless even to stand before him and bow to him, Antony exclaimed:
“Lord! Where were you when I was in such a terrible struggle? Couldn't you help me?
And the Savior answered him:
“I stood invisibly by your side, ready to help you if your faith were to waver."