Fighting discouragement

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monica4316
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Monica4316

Guest
I’m not trying to complain, but just wondering if anyone has any advice. I’ve been feeling extremely discouraged in my spiritual life lately. I think it all started with me discerning religious life and planning on going on a retreat, but then seeing how this sort of thing is really opposed at home. I don’t even know how to arrange the retreat. I am visiting family over the summer and I haven’t been able to go to daily Mass or receive the Sacraments often, and my prayer life is less than it used to be. I just feel very far from God and I’m scared He never called me to this in the first place, or I wonder what would happen if I keep discerning and I get scared… or I think that I need to fight this fear and not give up seeking God’s Will. At the same time, I am going through some sort of emptiness where I’m not sure what His Will is. So different feelings. I know I can be too fearful and I want to be faithful to God, but then I get thoughts like “what if I’m not doing His Will, what if I am just doing my will and would ruin my family?” etc. My mom has been health problems and I’m scared for her as well. How can I come closer to God, be more faithful to Him, and keep discerning His Will openly? 😦 just wondering if anyone has any advice who has maybe fought discougement. Thank you
 
There are times I feel discouraged because I don’t think I can handle what is in front of me. The older I get, the more I feel that my back is against a wall and I have no choice but to take on whatever is in front of me. I find that, discouragement comes when I know that I have a way out. If you don’t have any other options, you’ll do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Like tackle things head on with zeal.

I think Sun Tzu said something like; denying yourself any possible way out (in a battle) can be a phycological advantage. He called it ‘death ground’.

Some people get to a certain point and just say, “Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead!”. But you may have more discerning to do before you are ready for that. I know, it’s tough. May the divine assistance be with you always.
 
Monica4316 said:
How can I come closer to God, be more faithful to Him, and keep discerning His Will openly?
Click to expand...
Maybe an initial step would be to remove all of this from the level of feelings. Unfortunately, our feelings are absolutely the worst gauge of our spiritual life, and if we tend to view everything through the lens of emotions, we’re setting ourselves up to be dragged all over the map.

However, emotions are easily moved by things we are attached to, and so they are at least good for helping us to discern such attachments. Pray to Our Lady of Sorrows to help you see what the problems are here.
 
Rest; stop trying so hard. Sometimes we shout so loud we cannot hear anything but our own voice. Rest. Leave space and time. Do something easy and enjoyable.
 
Thank you for the replies… I agree that often we get so anxious we can’t even hear from God anymore. That definitely happens to me. I’m trying to be more calm when I pray about this as well… maybe separate my discernment with all the fears that accompany it. This problem always seems to be on my mind even when I do other things, I try to just do them anyway so I don’t simply sit there, lol!
 
Monica4316 said:
Thank you for the replies… I agree that often we get so anxious we can’t even hear from God anymore. That definitely happens to me. I’m trying to be more calm when I pray about this as well… maybe separate my discernment with all the fears that accompany it. This problem always seems to be on my mind even when I do other things, I try to just do them anyway so I don’t simply sit there, lol!
Click to expand...
When things are like this ,I knit! Then at least the worry has an end product, ,then I sell the work to feed babies… Simple occupation, seriously, is a great healer. Gardening, walking, anything simple and physical.

Letting time pass is a healer too.
 
The serenity prayer for this. Teresa of Avila’s prayer not to be disturbed.
 
Consider a better self denial in the prime context you are suffering within.

Saint Augustine wrote, " O goodness of Thine, singular and most to be admired!" (you may google that)

Can you see yourself exclaiming that in your misery? Maybe not over and over again, but you could find similar sublime heartfelt prayerful expressions in the Psalms.

Let go on your attempts to maximize your actuality from potentiality. Praise Him in your misery with Our Lady.
 
“In danger, anguish, or doubt, think of Mary and call upon her! Following her, you will never lose your way. Praying to her, you will never sink into despair. Contemplating her, you will never go wrong” -Saint Bernard
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top