J
jacobson9393
Guest
I pray every night before bed. I know that everyone goes through times of consolation and desolation. Any advice on how still hear to God’s voice in prayer during times of desolation?
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R_C
Guest
In silence.
“In the beginning…the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. …] In the beginning was the Word…through him all things were made…In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In that sacred solitude God dwelled in sacred silence. There He loved creation before creation came to be, for the Spirit of God is love. In silence, God loved us. He gazed upon us, and we came to be.
In silence.
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
For 9 months, the silent Christ, God the Son, dwelt within the Blessed Virgin’s sacred womb…pleading for mankind’s forgiveness and salvation while his body was being knit together in his mother’s womb…
In silence.
“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And he went out and wept bitterly.” Love and forgiveness granted in a look.
In silence.
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth”
In silence.
“When Herod saw Jesus…he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.” “When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.”
In silence.
“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid…they laid Jesus there.”
After commending His spirit to the Father, for three days He remained silent in a tomb. Darkness and death took hold of Him who was the Light and the Life. But “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Before rising up, he spoke silently to His beloved mother and to His disciples.
In silence.
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven”
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
In silence.
“Be still,
and know that I am God.”
http://catholicwisdom.stblogs.com/files/2010/03/Blessed-Sacrament-227x300.jpg
“In the beginning…the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. …] In the beginning was the Word…through him all things were made…In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In that sacred solitude God dwelled in sacred silence. There He loved creation before creation came to be, for the Spirit of God is love. In silence, God loved us. He gazed upon us, and we came to be.
In silence.
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
For 9 months, the silent Christ, God the Son, dwelt within the Blessed Virgin’s sacred womb…pleading for mankind’s forgiveness and salvation while his body was being knit together in his mother’s womb…
In silence.
“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And he went out and wept bitterly.” Love and forgiveness granted in a look.
In silence.
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth”
In silence.
“When Herod saw Jesus…he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.” “When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.”
In silence.
“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid…they laid Jesus there.”
After commending His spirit to the Father, for three days He remained silent in a tomb. Darkness and death took hold of Him who was the Light and the Life. But “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Before rising up, he spoke silently to His beloved mother and to His disciples.
In silence.
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven”
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
In silence.
“Be still,
and know that I am God.”
http://catholicwisdom.stblogs.com/files/2010/03/Blessed-Sacrament-227x300.jpg
A
Avila123
Guest
R_C has good advice. If you are at home when praying all I can suggest is trying to end the prayers with a Thank you to help still yourself. Maybe thanking Him for listening, always being with you, being divine love and mercy. In those times I find that repeating “In You I trust” and “Your will, not mine” helpful as it helps to reduce the desolation and takes my thoughts to Him and not me.
When I think back God has received many floods from me and like a patient parent, He let me “get it all out”. He answered, not when or how I expected but when He knew it would be best for my soul. Keep plugging away, He will give you what you need for your prayer life when He knows you are ready.
God bless you
S
Starrsmother
Guest
R_C, this is one of the most absolutely BEAUTIFUL meditations that I have ever heard. I will be thanking you and praying for all that is good for you in my heart–SILENTLY!!
po18guy
Well-known member
Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you tomorrow and every day.
Either He will shield you from suffering,
or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, then.
Put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually:
"The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in Him
and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me, and I in Him.
–St. Francis de Sales
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you tomorrow and every day.
Either He will shield you from suffering,
or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, then.
Put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually:
"The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in Him
and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me, and I in Him.
–St. Francis de Sales
K
kmcarl56
Guest
What wonderful advice. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about prayer. It will help me in my own prayer life. I know that God talks to me through the Holy Spirit, which is within me, and I always get my answers, not in my time but God’s. He also sometimes says no, maybe, or wait patiently to my wishes.
I also begin and end my prayers by thanking Him and glorifying His majesty and great love for me. That helps me not feel so selfish when I ask Him for help in certain matters concerning myself. I have no problem asking God to help others, it is just hard for me to ask for help for myself. I feel that I should just be grateful for all that I do have, and not complain (for lack of a better word) about wanting something more.
Can someone please help me with this too?
po18guy
Well-known member
Ask that His will be done, and be prepared for suffering, as He did not spare His only beloved Son from rejection and suffering unto death. This is a lesson that I had to re-learn recently. Remember that we are living in this life, but we are living for the next life, in which our glorified bodies will be incapable of pain or suffering.
Consider making a pilgrimage to your local chapel and offer your prayers face-to-face at adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Sooner or later, you will be amazed. Miracles happen there.
K
kmcarl56
Guest
I know logically all of these things, but my heart tells me differently. I know that God intends for us to be happy in this life, and to have our needs met. I know that He wants for us to live in abundance so that we may give freely to others of those in need. God does not want us to live in misery and suffering.
He does not want us to be sick and in pain. That is not His desire for us. I am living and learning still. I simply thank God for the wonderful miracles that He has poured over me in the past, and will continue praising Him for the things He wants for me in the future. I know what I must do to accomplish His plan for me. That is one of the reasons I am interested and active on this forum.
I love my Lord, my God with all of my heart, soul, and mind. Nothing can or will ever make me depart from that…not in this life!
po18guy
Well-known member
Sounds like you’ve been reading Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel. Well, that works fine when things are going fine.
But you are suffering. Is God incapable of helping you? No? Then, your suffering has a purpose. Do you think that Jesus suffered so that we do not have to? What did our Lord say?
“In this world you will have tribulation (suffering) but take heart, for I have overcome this world” John 16:33. He said that we would suffer, but to keep our faith in Him.
Regarding Paul, the Lord told Ananias “I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name” Acts 9:16 He said that Paul MUST suffer.
Paul rejoiced in his suffering, because he knew that suffering produces endurance (Romans 5:3) Those who endure win the race and receive the crown of glory - but not in this life!
Paul did not stress over his suffering, for he knew the glory that was coming (Romans 8:18) You know the beauty of heaven - what is a little suffering on earth?
Paul told Timothy to take his share of suffering as a good soldier for Christ (2 Tim 2:3) Thus, you must also accept your share of suffering.
Peter and John rejoiced - rejoiced - that they were found worthy of suffering for the sake of His Name. (Acts 5:41) Since you claim the Name of Christ, suffering is yours as well.
Our Lord says that you must take up your cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23), but the cross is not a blessing in this life - it is a curse that brings suffering on you. If you are going to share in Christ’s glory, then you must also bear your share of suffering. The blessing comes in the next life.
There is an absolutely huge gap between Catholic theology on suffering and non-Catholic theology. Life is not all grace and blessing when you claim the Name of Christ - look at the Christians in Syria! The innocent who claim Christ’s name are being slaughtered. God’s promise is that He will never abandon us - NOT that he will protect us from suffering. He gives us the strength to endure our suffering. If we do not bear our cross of suffering, we cannot expect to receive our crown of glory in the next life.
J
JRKH
Guest
As other have said…Silence is key - one cannot hear anything if one is not listening and listening needs silence.
Now - as to the matter of disposing ones self to this listening and to hear the Lord during times of desolation…I suggest that one concentrate on two types of prayers.
First is prayer of gratitude of thankfullness for all that God gives you each and every day. Such prayer allows us to focus on what God has already provided to us. Such focus will allow us to see anew the many everyday blessings that we all too often take for granted. When we do see these things again, just say “thank you God”.
The second form of prayer is to not ask for anything - - - except to ask God what He wants you to do - what He wishes you to learn from whatever trial(s) you are currently experiencing.
You might be surprised at what realizations come to you.
:doh2::getholy:It is my belief that some forms of desolation are the result of “familiarity” and a sort of “deadening” of our senses to God’s presence because it has been a part of us for so long.
We see this in many aspects of our lives. For example - we fall in love with someone and they fill our hearts and minds. We marry that person and slip into a routine. We find that we don’t think about them constantly - we maybe start taking them for granted…that “glow” seems to wear off. We still love them…we still want to be with them…we don’t mean to take them for granted…and it’s only when they are gone for a time (say on a business trip or something) or worse - they are sick and we might lose them that we recognize once again how much we need them.
Another example - might be in the realm of technology…Our lives are filled with various sorts of technologies from the internet to microwaves to cars to…
Yet the only time we really think of these things as “blessings” is when we are deprived of them. Otherwise we take them for granted.
The presence of God in our lives can be similar. The early flush of conversion, reconversion, reconciliation, some blessing or locution etc can become “normal” and, sadly, we can take it for granted. Then - even though God has not moved from us…we can feel that He is not near.
AT these times it is good to ask ourselves, what it was that brought about those early feelings of consolation. Was it not our submission to Him? Was it not our moving toward Him? Was it not our recognition of, and gratitude for, His many blessings? Was it not our desire, not to hear His voice - but to place ourselves at His disposal to do his Will?
This is what I have recognized in myself…
When I feel that God is not close, I need to return to that simple place of gratitude, general repentance, simple prayer, and just moving forward one day at a time trying to keep my heart focused on His Love - and sharing that Love with those around me.
I try not to take any of His blessings for granted - even though I am but a poor and inconstant servant.
Hope this helps a little.
Peace
James
H
HillbillyHermit
Guest
I think those times of desolation could be God wanting to draw us closer to Him. Often the best thing we can do is just be quiet and make ourselves aware of His presence. Even if that means, at least temporarily, of putting all devotions aside. In the Liturgy of the Hours there’s a time after the reading called “Sacred Silence.” I think we all could use more of that.
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