I feel tired.

[scapularkid8]

I feel tired spiritually. Prayers seem like a chore. I always plan on praying the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary and then I think: “It dosen’t do anything”

I guess what I’m more spacifically trying to say is that I’m not seeing any results to prayer. Yes, it comforts me. But then that feeling goes away. I feel guilty for expecting something from God when I pray and I’ve tried to just plow through it thinking it was a period of dryness, but I can’t seem to shake this. I don’t like it.

Psalmists can be quoted as saying the exact feeling I’m experiencing: “Show me your face…”,“My heart is numb within me…”,“My God, why have you abandoned me?” ect.
I finish reading the Pslams and they praise Him in the end and are comforted. Why can’t I see what they see in God? What’s stoping me from having the kind of epiphanies they’re having? Why can’t I see all the blessings God gives me every day?

 

[tkdnick]

I feel tired spiritually. Prayers seem like a chore. I always plan on praying the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary and then I think: “It dosen’t do anything”

I guess what I’m more spacifically trying to say is that I’m not seeing any results to prayer. Yes, it comforts me. But then that feeling goes away. I feel guilty for expecting something from God when I pray and I’ve tried to just plow through it thinking it was a period of dryness, but I can’t seem to shake this. I don’t like it.

Psalmists can be quoted as saying the exact feeling I’m experiencing: “Show me your face…”,“My heart is numb within me…”,“My God, why have you abandoned me?” ect.
I finish reading the Pslams and they praise Him in the end and are comforted. Why can’t I see what they see in God? What’s stoping me from having the kind of epiphanies they’re having? Why can’t I see all the blessings God gives me every day?

Perhaps that is just it…you haven’t moved to the end of your Psalm yet. Perhaps you are in the period of feeling numb, abandoned, etc. I think everyone goes through these periods and they can be very trying.

My question would be - in past (or even currently) what has made you feel closest to God? Whatever that is, do it more. For me I have always felt closest to God through music. So when I am struggling I sing songs to God, praises to God, whatever I need to make that connection to Him. Find what your thing is and do it more often.

 

[Spirithound]

I feel tired spiritually. Prayers seem like a chore. I always plan on praying the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary and then I think: “It dosen’t do anything”

I guess what I’m more spacifically trying to say is that I’m not seeing any results to prayer. Yes, it comforts me. But then that feeling goes away. I feel guilty for expecting something from God when I pray and I’ve tried to just plow through it thinking it was a period of dryness, but I can’t seem to shake this. I don’t like it.

Psalmists can be quoted as saying the exact feeling I’m experiencing: “Show me your face…”,“My heart is numb within me…”,“My God, why have you abandoned me?” ect.
I finish reading the Pslams and they praise Him in the end and are comforted. Why can’t I see what they see in God? What’s stoping me from having the kind of epiphanies they’re having? Why can’t I see all the blessings God gives me every day?

Congrats, you’re in the desert. The good news is that God won’t give you anything that you can’t handle. I encourage you to continue to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and the Rosary, even if you don’t feel anything. The bad news is that the desert isn’t fun. But, if you can continue to praise the Lord even when you don’t get the “God-high” that we all know and love, you will be very blessed.
Peace.

 

[puzzleannie]

that very feeling described in OP is addressed in the CCC section on Christian prayer, the part that begins Battle of Prayer. The roots of such feelings are addressed, and the solution, which is of course, to remain faithful in prayer at all times and circumstances.

 

[FightingFat]

Perhaps you’re a Cistercian and need physical action?? Join a group like the SVP or HCPT that works helping people in your community-- there’s more than one way to pray!

 

[Linda_Marie]

One thing that has been helping me lately (I’ve been feeling very dry) is to thank Him for the dryness, for the suffering that you feel when you think “But it doesn’t do anything”. Thank Him for giving you this so that you can offer it to Him.

I have always been told to be careful what you pray for. Someone told me a story of a woman who prayed, “Lord, give me patience.” Instead of things getting easier, it seemed that there was more and more every day that tried her patience. And that was the answer to her prayer - she was being given opportunites to be patient.

I’ve been trying to trust the Lord in all things and I’ve asked Him for help in that area. I think the dryness and the feeling that my prayers are going nowhere or are perhaps ineffectual are part of the answer to my prayer. I can’t rely on the feelings that I used to have. I just have to trust Him, that He has heard and will answer according to His Will. He’s just giving me more opportunites to trust Him.

 

[CSN]

that very feeling described in OP is addressed in the CCC section on Christian prayer, the part that begins Battle of Prayer. The roots of such feelings are addressed, and the solution, which is of course, to remain faithful in prayer at all times and circumstances.

Yes, hear hear. Prayer is a battle, against ourselves.

To pray in the face of reluctance or fatigue is good.

Don’t give up…

 

[geezerbob]

As a recovering alcoholic (24 years in April, by the grace of God) I found many useful ideas for daily living in the book “Alcoholics Anonymnous.”

One of the things I found partularly useful was writing things down. In one column, list the things you think you want and are praying for. In the other, list the things you have, then compare the two and give thanks. The process of writing things down forces you to make some sense of the jumble of often conflicting thoughts floating around in your head and just may clear the blockage that keeps you from hearing God’s voice.

Just passing on the experience of what worked for me. Try it. It may be just what you need.

You’re in my prayers.

 

[scapularkid8]

thanks for the prayers geezerbob. I just got a new copy of Shorter Christian Prayer and I think that’ll help me stay routine and connected to His Word and what He wants to tell me every day.

I borrowed the book “School of Prayer” from my grandfather and it explains the LOTH. There was a section that talks about how if we’re feeling down and out, we should still pray the Psalms of joy in the idea that the members of the Body of Christ pray for and with each other. Even if I’m disheartened, there are those praying with me that aren’t. And when I leave the ‘desert’ (which seems like never!), I’ll be praying the Psalms of joy for me and those who can’t at that moment. It really put things in perspective for me when I read that! It was a drink of cool water in the desert I’m in.

Everyone please pray for me. I hate this dryness. I just want to understand God better. If you pray the LOTH, please say so, so I can know that I have some companionship in those Psalms that rejoice!

 

[Kevin42]

I do my best to pray the Liturgy of the Hours most days (although some days I fail). It’s very helpful. I also agree with the book…some of the Psalms can be very powerful in uplifting our souls and refocusing us on God. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Peace be with you.

 

[Mintaka]

I have good news and bad news, and they’re both the same.

Periodic dryness is an integral part of our prayer lives.

God uses happy feelings and consolations to encourage us to pray. Then, once we’re rooted in prayer, He uses dryness to exercise our faith muscles. For most people, it goes back and forth like that.

I’m not saying it’s not hard. But then, nobody pretends that exercising the body isn’t hard. Still, it will get better. It’s just going to take a while. Don’t give up. And don’t forget to offer up your frustration, weariness, etc. to God. After all, He’s the one who gave it to you; you probably want to give it right back.

 

[Eddy]

Can I suggest two websites:

www.sacredspace.ie

and

www.pray-as-you-go.org

It can be helpful to feel that someone else is guiding you through prayer, and both these sites, because they’re step by step, and structured, can help give a sense of companionship (particularly the second where someone reads the scripture passage for you) and direction.

Hope it helps.

 

[CSN]

Can I suggest two websites:

www.sacredspace.ie

and

www.pray-as-you-go.org

It can be helpful to feel that someone else is guiding you through prayer, and both these sites, because they’re step by step, and structured, can help give a sense of companionship (particularly the second where someone reads the scripture passage for you) and direction.

Hope it helps.

My brother’s name is Eddy. Izat you Eddy?

Anyway, great sites !! Just great !!

 

[Eddy]

My brother’s name is Eddy. Izat you Eddy?

Anyway, great sites !! Just great !!

Nope, not your brother, but your sister in Christ .

The sites are great. I’m so grateful to the people who put the work into making them a reality!

 

[Em_in_FL]

Everyone please pray for me. I hate this dryness. I just want to understand God better. If you pray the LOTH, please say so, so I can know that I have some companionship in those Psalms that rejoice!

You are definitely in my prayers!
I don’t know, it’s very odd… it’s like looking back in time at myself when I read your posts… very fascinating to me.
Gosh life has changed so much for me since then… good, bad, dry, refreshing… sometimes these changes are over shorter periods (just days)… sometimes longer (up to years)… it’s just so dynamic (I use that word a lot).
One thing I’ve learned… always expect change. You will never be where you once were. It WILL be different, no doubt. Maybe worse, maybe better, but definitely not the same.

I remember that being a very difficult lesson for me. I wanted things to go back to the way they once were… and to stay that way forever. I’ve slowly learned that it will never happen.

What’s amazing is that the exact scriptures that touched us in one particular way… may in the future have an entirely different way of reaching us. It makes the scriptures and prayers dynamic themselves as well. They become more and more meaningful, looking back at how we used those prayers in different ways. What you “feel” by reading one Psalm today will be entirely different than what you get out of it 5, 10 years from now.

God bless, scapularkid… you’re in my prayers.

 

[GoldenArrow]

Scapular 8 Kid,

Good to hear from you!

I can relate to your dryness. I am also in a terrible dry spell —the WORST I’ve ever had — a spiritual state of dryness combined with terrible temptations of every sort at every corner and also combined with physical suffering. There are absolutely no consolations in prayer. Lights out. Been this way for at least six months. Has really increased this past month.

My reaction to this is to offer up my dryness to God for the salvation of souls, and also, to try to not change my prayer habits — though naturally one’s human nature inclines one to be disinclined to pray during such times.

During this time, I’m just hitting the books — learning the faith. I try to keep going to Daily Mass as often as my work schedule allows. I’m taking some classes at church taught by someone who is literally ON FIRE for God, and that helps me immensely during this period — being around others who live and breathe Christ. Being around others who are in a state of consolation really helps remind me that there will one day be a Glorious Return.

This too, shall pass, for both of us.

God bless you, Sweetie!

 

[nana3]

Scapular 8 kid,

I am also going through this dryness and I agree with you that it is no fun. I think I am coming out slowly and it is nice again. It was very difficult even to pray and I felt that God was so far away from me, but of course, he never left me. As someone told me when I asked about this dryness on this forum, we can’t rely on our feelings. It is great when the Lord gives us consolation, but our faith must continue in the dry periods as well. Hang in there and keep doing what you are doing. I will keep you in my daily Rosary and when I go to Eucharist Adoration. I am so glad though that you continue to search for Our God and His Ways. He is indeed an Awesome God.

 

[BeeSweet]

What’s stoping me from having the kind of epiphanies they’re having?

I read recently one of the sins against the Holy Spirit is to envy another’s spiritual welfare (even a Psalmist!), so you may want to guard yourself against such a thing as that! You have something going for you that a great many people do not, and I have often found your posts here to be enlightening. Please take solace in knowing that you are helping people in many ways that you don’t know! That is the most important thing we can do in God’s eyes, isn’t it? This is an absolutely beautiful prayer that I have found helpful to me, maybe it can help you a little too: Litany of Humility

that very feeling described in OP is addressed in the CCC section on Christian prayer, the part that begins Battle of Prayer. The roots of such feelings are addressed, and the solution, which is of course, to remain faithful in prayer at all times and circumstances.

This is the sort of thing I’m talking about Scapularkid, had you not posted your dilema, I would not have looked this up last night, and I would not have been blown away by how absolutely beautiful the words in our Catechism on this subject are: Christian Prayer I had to force myself to go to bed last night!

If you pray the LOTH, please say so, so I can know that I have some companionship in those Psalms that rejoice!

I have wanted to learn, but it has been SLOW going for me! Last night because of you, I picked up my little guide to praying LOTH and my book of psalms, and I came to a better understanding of it than I have ever had in the past.

Scapularkid, remember in your prayers all the folks who are in the desert with you, and all the folks who are on their way there, and those who have come out of it. May God bless you abundantly. I feel blessed by you!

 

[scapularkid8]

Scapularkid, remember in your prayers all the folks who are in the desert with you, and all the folks who are on their way there, and those who have come out of it. May God bless you abundantly. I feel blessed by you!

Thank you for posting this. It makes me feel connected to everyone to know that I have been a blessing to someone in some way. No one has ever told me that before. I will keep those in the desert in my prayers and continue to use the Psalms as a way to dig a well to God’s consolating waters of peace. I can feel every day that I pray them, I am making a small step closer to leaving the desert. I find more and more peace and understanding in a new Psalm every day.

The verse that really helps me is: “Today listen to the voice of the Lord. Do not grow stubborn as your fathers did when at Meriba and Massah they challenged me and provoked me although they had seen all of my works.” It always shakes me and says “Don’t worry Tom. God will guide you out of this in His time. Which is the best time-table to be on, your confused worldly one, or that of Wisdom itself?”

One other question:
How does one who is already in the desert approach Lent? Isn’t that when we’re supposed to “enter the desert”?

 

[pumpkinbeast]

Periodic dryness is an integral part of our prayer lives.

God uses happy feelings and consolations to encourage us to pray. Then, once we’re rooted in prayer, He uses dryness to exercise our faith muscles. For most people, it goes back and forth like that.

I was just skimming through this thread, because I’ve started to feel the same way the OP does, and your reply hit me! Thank you so much! It makes so much sense!

Another thing I thought of is that feelings are primarily caused by nerves, right? A biological process… nerves get tired. That’s why you get used to smells; the nerves in your nose get worn out and stop transmitting the scent as strongly. Maybe our happy-fulfilled-peaceful-prayer-type nerves are just tired. I know the feeling will come back, eventually.

Another thing that helped me awhile back was to remember that you don’t need to always ‘feel’ like praying. As long as you actually do sit down and give your time to God, He’ll take it and use it.