The Gifts Of Consolation And Desolation

An important part of the spiritual journey is remembering comfortbe grateful for joy, and experience gratitude for your relationship with God. It is also helpful to reflect on experiences of “valleys” of separation from God. desolation. Both principles provide opportunities for spiritual growth.

Terms and conditions comfort and desolation The term to describe our spiritual state comes from the writings of Ignatius de Loyola, co-founder of the Jesuits (Jesuits), a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, around the time of the Protestant Reformation in the mid-16th century. I’m doing it.

heart movement

During his convalescence, Ignatius became aware of what he called “the workings of the mind.” He found that when he read about Jesus and the saints, especially Francis of Assisi, he felt a deep and abiding desire to be like them. These insights led him to write about two important heart movements. comfortpulling and moving towards God; desolationmoving away from God. And he decided that he wanted to follow the path of consolation.

comfort

Many people describe comfort as a feeling of being comforted and supported. Ignatius uses the word in a broader sense to refer to deep feelings that bring us closer to God. It can also refer to the feeling that God is with us through life’s events. If you have ever felt attuned to the Spirit and filled with joy, hope, love, lasting peace, energy, life, and comfort, you have experienced comfort. But comfort is not something we only experience when life seems to be going well. Even in times of deep sadness and grief, we can realize that God is comforting and supporting us. When we seek solace, it is helpful to think about moments when something sacred, wonderful, or mysterious breaks through and touches our hearts.

desolation

Desolation is two sides of the same coin. It’s more than just the feeling of “being depressed” when we use the term in casual conversation. Ignatius uses “desolation” to refer to the movements of the heart that lead us away from God’s goodness and the life He has given us. For Ignatius, desolation is when we turn away from God or become caught up in a vortex of negative emotions such as uncontrollable anger, restlessness, anxiety, confusion, apathy, apathy, and callousness. It happens. Desolation may be undesirable, but it can be helpful. Think of it as a warning sign or a “teachable moment” rather than a failure or sin. For example, if you find yourself on a path in life that seems divinely inspired, yet you constantly feel desolate, it’s time to stop and reflect on the wisdom of your choices. I am.

Both comfort and devastation are to be expected in life, and recognizing and learning from them helps us mature in our faith. One way to track these movements is to journal about your daily moments of comfort or loneliness and pray for guidance in understanding what each movement means for your future choices.

This reflection on comfort and desolation comes from a book that Pastor Chad Abbott and I published with Fortress Press. Listen: Cultivating Spiritual Awakening in Your Congregation.