Trying to get spiritual clarity - would appreciate help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shino918
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shino918

Guest
I am in a state of spiritual confusion and I would appreciate if you could help me to work this thing out. A week ago or so, I had a very spiritual experience, I think it was being “born again”. I felt the Spirit in me, and it was like warmth in my body, like electricity. I was so incredibly happy during this time, that I couldn’t control myself. I was filled with a sort of divine love for everything and everyone. Problem is, I could not see that I should have quieted my spirit and search even more for the fruits of the Spirit. I was so happy during this period, and I really felt like, this is who God created me to be. So therefore, I did not heed sin, though it wasn’t commited with any mischief in my heart. I trusted my heart to be good, so I did not continue to sanctify my body as well as my heart. I kind of stopped in search for God, though I was very very close to him at this time. Now I feel like I have regressed, and I don’t know how to continue, because these kind of experiences are meant for one to deepen one’s relation with God. How should we be as Christians? Happy? Sad? Meek? Strong? Confident? For example, my parents are pressurizing me to visit a psychologist; since I am an adult, should I honor their request or do what I please, that is talking to a priest about my issues?
What do you think of this? Now the cosmos is in chaos once again, can hear my family arguing outside… God please help me from myself.
 
As an adult, you need to respect your parents but not obey everything they say. If they tell you to do something that is good for your soul and other’s, yes I would do it. But at your age you are free to obey or not obey your parents, Instead, seek the will of the Lord.

However, if you still live with your parents, there will be house rules to obey. For example,
they might expect you to take out the trash or shovel snow. They have the right to make those rules while you are living under their roof.

Spiritual experiences are great, but they don’t happen very often so don’t count on them.
Everyone goes through periods of dry prayer but it is best to perservere.

If you did sin, just go to Confession, God is always there, waiting to take you back.
 
Thank you, you are right. I should not count on these emotions.
 
I had trouble finding the passage I was thinking of from The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila— but in general, I think you’d really benefit from reading about the Fourth and Fifth Mansions. I suspect that if you started with the First, Second, and Third Mansions, you’d recognize a lot of your past and/or current path, and there would be a lot of pertinent advice there. Buy a cheap used copy and attack it with a highlighter at everything that resonates with you, and flip through the marked passages when you need to orient yourself. 😃
 
Thanks, I will try to get a copy. I mean stuff is really messed up, a week ago, I was more energetic than I’ve been my whole life, I knew that I could resist any sin, but now, I can’t barely study, just did a maths test for my class on the internet and I failed it… What is happening with me!!! Please God do not forsake me or anyone here, give us courage and strength, and open our spiritual eyes. Amen.
 
God sends consolations (wonderful experiences similar to those you experienced) to encourage us on our path to holiness. Consolations from God lead us to Him–if they don’t, then they are not from God–sometimes they are of our own making (psychological or physical), or sometimes even from demons, who can influence our imaginations and he ce our emotions. Since your experience led you to sin (are you at all scrupulous? Or were you careless about committing an actually sinful act?), I would suggest a talk with a good priest about this sort of thing; he would be in the best position to advise you.

However, the topic you want to find out more about is “discerning the spirits” in the way of St Ignatius of Loyola. I have a link to some audio resources and the name of a book by the same priest which I can give you if you ask. (They are hard to find.)

The other thing about consolations that is important to know is that they are not indications of where you are on your path. They are like little gifts God sends.

You know what you need to do to repair your relationship with God… Confession. He is always ready to forgive you! For understanding this aspect of the Christian life, I recommend Dom Scupoli’s *Spiritual Combat, *which my patron saint (St Francis de Sales) carred in his pocket all the time). It is available in full online; again, I can link it if you need me to. (this one is easy to find.)

It is hard to know how to evaluate your parents’ advice to see a psychologist. This might be a good thing to discuss with someone whose judgement you trust and with whom you are willing to discuss openly. Your parents may have some valid concerns, or they may not; it is very hard for us to tell over the internet 😉 And of course, whatever your parents are noticing could be a spiritual problem, so this might be something you could also discuss with a good priest.
 
St_Francis said:
God sends consolations (wonderful experiences similar to those you experienced) to encourage us on our path to holiness. Consolations from God lead us to Him–if they don’t, then they are not from God–sometimes they are of our own making (psychological or physical), or sometimes even from demons, who can influence our imaginations and he ce our emotions. Since your experience led you to sin (are you at all scrupulous? Or were you careless about committing an actually sinful act?), I would suggest a talk with a good priest about this sort of thing; he would be in the best position to advise you.

However, the topic you want to find out more about is “discerning the spirits” in the way of St Ignatius of Loyola. I have a link to some audio resources and the name of a book by the same priest which I can give you if you ask. (They are hard to find.)

The other thing about consolations that is important to know is that they are not indications of where you are on your path. They are like little gifts God sends.

You know what you need to do to repair your relationship with God… Confession. He is always ready to forgive you! For understanding this aspect of the Christian life, I recommend Dom Scupoli’s *Spiritual Combat, *which my patron saint (St Francis de Sales) carred in his pocket all the time). It is available in full online; again, I can link it if you need me to. (this one is easy to find.)

It is hard to know how to evaluate your parents’ advice to see a psychologist. This might be a good thing to discuss with someone whose judgement you trust and with whom you are willing to discuss openly. Your parents may have some valid concerns, or they may not; it is very hard for us to tell over the internet 😉 And of course, whatever your parents are noticing could be a spiritual problem, so this might be something you could also discuss with a good priest.
Click to expand...
You could say I was careless about commiting a sinful act. Also, I felt as if my spiritual “vision” had been opened, something the likes of which I have never experienced in my whole life. Now this vision feels like a blur, inconsistent. I kind of felt absolute power to withstand every sin, and that’s why I didn’t heed it. But it was a wonderful feeling. I would love to read what you recommended, please do send the links (PM). And say a prayer for me will you, when people have been praying for me things have kind of worked out, god bless them 😉
 
After reading your post and the replies you have received so far I would like to add one thing. While it is true that adults need not obey their parents but be respectful of them, it is wise to listen to what they are saying with an open mind. What you mentioned about being so very elated and then crashing so hard, I am reminded of a relative of mine who goes through those same highs and lows. For him, not necessarily for you, there was a chemical imbalance and a psychiatrist was able to help him. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.
 
Audio re Discernment of Spirits–he tends to be a bit wordy, but there is good info in there 🙂

These were written for spiritual directors, so they are not easy to understand, so one needs supplemental info, but it is good to know what they are.

Spiritual Combat pdf–I do not know anything about the rest of the site, but this one uses a nice font and would be easily transferred onto a smart phone or similar device. The first few chapters are about relying on God and I find them very useful.

:gopray:

ETA: did not post links before because it is difficult to do on my smaller device.
 
Don’t worry about it if things feel really spiritual and you get a lot of synchronicity at times, and you don’t at other times. You can’t be ecstatic all the time or it loses its meaning. Plus after such experiences you may find yourself less anxious during situations when you aren’t having them.

As far as seeing a psychologist, it is possible that could help but not necessarily. I can’t give “medical advice” over the forums, but the main question is whether it is interfering with your “expected” tasks. Like does it mess up school, or social situations? If it is, you may have less flexibility. If at all possible, see if you can find a “spiritual director” to meet, who will guide you specifically. Good ones are hard to find and they aren’t the same, but this is an avenue to try.

The problem with “normal” people is they expect others to stay within “expected” behavior which can be especially tough if you change and those you are with don’t understand the nature of the change.

Father Keating, of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, (aka Trappist) discusses the loss of the false self.

Letting go of the false self

MS
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top