Emptiness in prayer

[mognar]

I’d like to ask you what do you think about this.

When I started to believe in God, prayer was something incredibly beautiful and usually very emotional. I prayed alot, and I loved to pray. When I prayed I could somehow feel God’s presence and love, it was quite ‘‘magical’’ I would say. Over the last few years, I followed God, and he has led me to the Catholic Church. And I have kinda settled in. Problem is, my prayers are not what they used to be. When I pray now, I feel somehow empty, I don’t feel God, I don’t feel anything. It is more like a meditation. I understand that prayer should not be about what I am getting out of it, but I wish I could experience again what I experienced in my early prayers. Also when I don’t feel anything, I think my prayers are useless, but this is probably just a lack of faith, and I should not depend on my feelings so much. I think that God maybe knows that he has me now, and I will follow him anyway, so he has stopped giving me those ‘‘spiritual cookies’’ becouse I don’t need them anymore. Or maybe I did something wrong. Though I have to admit I don’t pray as often and steadily as I used to.

Has anyone also experienced this or something alike ?

 

[Robert_Sock]

I’d like to ask you what do you think about this.

When I started to believe in God, prayer was something incredibly beautiful and usually very emotional. I prayed alot, and I loved to pray. When I prayed I could somehow feel God’s presence and love, it was quite ‘‘magical’’ I would say. Over the last few years, I followed God, and he has led me to the Catholic Church. And I have kinda settled in. Problem is, my prayers are not what they used to be. When I pray now, I feel somehow empty, I don’t feel God, I don’t feel anything. It is more like a meditation. I understand that prayer should not be about what I am getting out of it, but I wish I could experience again what I experienced in my early prayers. Also when I don’t feel anything, I think my prayers are useless, but this is probably just a lack of faith, and I should not depend on my feelings so much. I think that God maybe knows that he has me now, and I will follow him anyway, so he has stopped giving me those ‘‘spiritual cookies’’ becouse I don’t need them anymore. Or maybe I did something wrong. Though I have to admit I don’t pray as often and steadily as I used to.

Has anyone also experienced this or something alike ?

An inner spiritual void can be a key symptom of the Dark Night, as explained by Saint John of the Cross. The bigger the void, the more Godliness a person can experience at a latter date. Saint John of the Cross, as well as in The Imitation of Christ, teach us not to seek spiritual “cookies,” as there is something much more grand on the horizon.

 

[ready]

Don’t seek after “spiritual cookies,” just seek to please God at all times, while in prayer, while at work, etc… God takes away consolations in prayer when He wants us to walk by pure faith alone. Be sure that you are not being negligent or unfaithful in the spiritual life and with your daily duties because these things can effect your prayer. God bless you.

 

[Della]

You have answered your own questions when you wrote that the honymoon period is over between you and the Lord. Now begins the marriage–the entering into the task of taking up our daily cross to follow Christ. Many experience dryness in prayer after the first glow of conversion passes. God wants you to go deeper into the things of God, and to understand that conversion is a daily process–one of abandoning our sins and letting go of worldly attachments. If you don’t have a solid daily prayer routrine, you should start one. I always suggest the The Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours, which is the daily prayer of the Church. You don’t have to pray all the hours. Most lay people pray Morning and Evening Prayer and perhaps Night Prayer. Also, you may want to read the Daily Mass Readings. The website is particularly good.

 

[JackVk]

Don’t worry. Spiritual desolation like this is normal. Persevere during this “dry spell”. There are no shortage of canonized saints who have experienced exactly what you are going through (Mother Teresa included).

 

[Purgatory_Pete]

You have answered your own questions when you wrote that the honymoon period is over between you and the Lord. Now begins the marriage–the entering into the task of taking up our daily cross to follow Christ. Many experience dryness in prayer after the first glow of conversion passes. God wants you to go deeper into the things of God, and to understand that conversion is a daily process–one of abandoning our sins and letting go of worldly attachments. If you don’t have a solid daily prayer routrine, you should start one. I always suggest the The Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours, which is the daily prayer of the Church. You don’t have to pray all the hours. Most lay people pray Morning and Evening Prayer and perhaps Night Prayer. Also, you may want to read the Daily Mass Readings. The website is particularly good.

I agree, I am a cradle Catholic and have had the same feelings many times.
I look at it like this, God is leading me to were I need to be, were He desires me to be.
If that closeness begins to fade then I need to move toward Him.
I need to step out of that dark place and find His light.
In times like these I find that calming myself 10 minutes
before prayer and also lighting a Votive candle
helps me to draw close to Him, focus and pray.

Close your eyes, picture taking His hand,
get on your knees (if you can) and pray.
The feeling will return.

God Bless.

 

[Dorothy]

Do not be tempted to pray less. We gain spiritual muscle when we pray without feelings; the Lord will know when to let up and console you.

However, it is better to not seek the good feelings (consolations), in going without them we can have a deeper peace in His presence.

 

[Anne1964]

Emotions are notoriously unreliable indicators of progress in the spiritual life. It is very common for persons to experience strong emotions when first developing a relationship with God. As another poster said, the honeymoon period is over and now you are settling into a long term relationship with God. There will be ups and downs in that relationship.

Please don’t think that your prayer isn’t effective or that God isn’t responding to your prayer because you don’t feel strong emotions when praying. God is still there and He still loves you.

There will be dry periods and there will be periods when you will experience those wonderful emotions again. When you feel empty in prayer you may want to think about the last time you had an emotional prayer experience and thank God for the graces He gave you.

Definitely do not expect to have experiences like that every time you pray, though.

You may enjoy reading The Fire Within, by Fr. Thomas DuBay. It is an excellent book which describes the various types of prayer experiences people have as they grow in the spiritual life.

 

[mognar]

Thank you all for response. Well, you all have basicly just confirmed what I was thinking. I just wasn’t sure if this is something normal.