How Do You Handle Despair?

[AlanFromWichita]

Again, thank you all for your kind words and great advice.

I’ve begun making an effort to pray at least one part of the Divine Office each day–usually either morning or evening prayer. I’ve found it to be a very peaceful experience.

I also picked up Scott Hahn’s book, “Lenten Reflections from A Father Who Keeps His Promises”. I was browsing about Barnes & Noble and found it, feeling it would be a nice resource to try and get the most from this Lenten season.

Finally, I’ll be sure to keep you all in my prayer intentions. Your help has been greater than you could know.

You can do more active participation, but maybe you would benefit from a change in what you do. Find a retreat to go on that sounds inspiring, preferably with your wife but not necessarily. For that matter, to help with your first year marriage troubles, you might look into making a marriage encounter weekend. or if the troubles are more significant, Retrouvaille,

Another thing to try is “resting in God,” aka contemplative prayer. Learn about the spiritual journey. Read the Dark Night of the Soul. Basically doing something new rather than just doing more of what isn’t working now.

No matter which way you go, if you can find a spiritual director to work with you, you will get personalized advice on where to go, from someone who knows what the true spiritual journey is. Or even your pastor. Ask for meetings with him. You can recite all the prayers in the world, but the spiritual journey requires development in the ways of love – and without that all the prayers are just noise.

I also favor the idea of “just show up.” That applies not just to going to Mass, but to everything you do. When you are in despair, if you can just get up in the morning and go through your routine, then you are “showing up.” I know when I fought despair for a few months it was so severe that all I could do was wallow around on a mattress wishing my thoughts would all go away – I couldn’t even log into my computer, much less be of value for anyone or anything else. Sometimes just getting up and getting dressed is like climbing Mount Everest to one with little hope – but it’s a start. It’s something.

Alan

 

[Robert_Sock]

My situation: Lately, I’ve been kind of stuck in a rut. I’m struggling with lots of aspects in my life, and feel like I have no idea how to break through. I’m failing in a job that I don’t want to be in. My wife and I have decided to relocate to start a family closer to my family–but I can’t seem to find a job in that area. My wife and I are going through a lot of the first-year-married struggles. I’ve been trying over the past year or so to return to practicing my faith (not just believing), and I just can’t make it happen. Recently, it’s come to a head–all I want to do is sleep during the day, but I spend all night awake because I’m so stressed/worried/puzzled.

So, long story short, how do you handle times like these? I’m looking for things like:

-What prayers do you say?
-What Scripture passages do you read?
-What Saints do you ask to intercede?

I’m usually a very optimistic, glass-half-full kind of man. But lately, I’m just really struggling.

Thanks in advance.

Get yourself a copy of The Imitation of Christ by Leo Sherley-Price.