Change yourself when you are in spiritual desolation! Move out of the fog of confusion, doubt, restlessness and isolation–change yourself. Don’t reverse or change any previously instituted spiritual practices or commitments. Simply change yourself, cooperating with God’s grace, to free yourself from the enemy’s grasp.
Manifestations of Desolation
St. Ignatius tells us spiritual desolation manifests itself in the darkness of the soul, felt turmoil, impulsive movements toward low and earthly things, and away from God and spiritual things. Various agitations and temptations can lead to these movements, as well as to disquiet, listlessness, or tepidity. So, if you’re struggling to get into your spiritual routine or to stay engaged in it, with any of these symptoms present, you’re likely experiencing some form of spiritual desolation.
Nonspiritual desolation–when you’re tired or feeling beat down, or both, often opens the door for the enemy to bring in spiritual desolation. For example, troubling interactions with someone at home or at work can lead to nonspiritual desolation–discouragement, agitation, anxiety–you name it. This then can lead to spiritual desolation, wherein you end up struggling with a diminished desire for prayer. Or, you may experience low or no energy for other spiritual activities.
Be On Guard Against Attacks
When can you expect such attacks? Two broad categories come to mind. First, any time you’ve had some great experience of God’s grace. This is because the devil’s looking to take away your peace and separate you from God. Second, when you’re about to enter into some “high potential” activity–a potential source of great grace. In this case, you’ll often find the enemy trying to discourage you and keep you away from that grace. In Setting Captives Free, Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV, refers to this latter situation as “pre-event desolation.”
Prior to participating in some spiritual activity, the enemy likely will throw up obstacles to keep you away from a high potential opportunity. For example, have you ever had vehicle problems, or know someone who has, right when it’s time to leave for a high-potential event? Or how about one of those disturbing interactions with someone right before you head out? Have the effects of that exchange set you back on your heels, leaving you with a disturbed spirit?
The lingering disturbance from a nonspiritual interaction will open the door for the enemy. He can use that opening to try to thwart your participation in the upcoming high potential event. At the very least, you could end up being out of sorts to the extent that you’re struggling with engagement in your routine spiritual activities. But you may be so “off” that you miss out on the graces of the moment during the activity, distracted in your despondency. As well, you may not want to engage with others at the event. Yet, God may have placed you there for that every purpose–to engage with them because they need you!
Change Yourself–Sixth Rule for Discernment of Spirits
Rule Six of St. Ignatius’ Rules for the Discernment of Spirits tells us:
Although we ought not to change our former resolutions in time of desolation, it is very profitable to make vigorous changes in ourselves against the desolation, for example, by insisting more on prayer, meditation, earnest self-examination, and some suitable way of doing penance.
Pray and Meditate
Following St. Ignatius’ lead, to change yourself in the face of such spiritual attacks, first, pray and meditate.
Pray: Ask God for His help to overcome the desolation. In other words, pray in petition to Him. Of course, always ask in Jesus’ name, through the intercession of Our Lady and your patron saints. For that matter, ask all the holy men and women in heaven and all the holy angels to intercede for you.
Meditate: Ponder God’s love and support for you, countering the darkness and confusion that the desolation has brought. Find a Scripture passage that speaks to your heart in the moment. One example, from Psalm 17, follows but you need to choose what works for you in the circumstances:
I call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God; incline thy ear to me, hear my words. 7 Wondrously show thy steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at thy right hand.8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of thy wings, 9 from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
Indeed, God is the Savior of those who seek refuge. So, think about His grace, presence, and faithfulness to you in the past. Looking back, recall where He was in key moments in your life, and know that He’s here now as well.
Examination and Penance
In addition to petitionary prayer and meditation, we’re advised to enter into “earnest examination” and to find “some suitable way of doing penance:”
Examine: Next, having prayed and meditated, think about what’s been going on. What have you been thinking? What have been the movements in your heart? When did all this seem to begin? What caused it? How has it progressed to this point? Going through this process, and getting a grasp on what’s happened, through your reasoning will help you be more aware. It will assist you in regaining clarity.
Perform Some Suitable Penance: St. Ignatius also suggests adding some additional form of penance. This does not have to be complicated, nor does it need to be extreme. Consider, for example, adding an additional few minutes to your mental prayer time. Take a technology break–no web surfing or podcasts for some set period of time. Hold off on grabbing that next snack. Or, avoid taking a second helping at meal time. Perhaps, skip dessert. Bland your food–avoid seasoning it for the next meal. Above all, actively resisting in some way the tendencies you want to curb can make a difference for you.
God’s Grace and Your Response
In all of this, God’s grace is paramount. You and I need to cooperate with it; without Him, we can do nothing. (cf. John 15:5) So, when the desolation lifts–and it will–give thanks to Him. You can simply tell Him thanks from the heart. Or you can also consider praying with an appropriate Scripture passage as well. One that comes to mind is Psalm 18:
1 I love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me,
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me,
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears…
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
and from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They came upon me in the day of my calamity;
but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth into a broad place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me…
These Experiences Can Advance Your Spiritual Life
The Lord does, indeed, delight in you. He does not cause, but will allow spiritual desolation in order to help you grow spiritually. When you do encounter such desolation, you may find that, often, a simple rejection, rebuking and renunciation of the enemy and his lies will dispel the desolation. At other times, you’ll need to do more: prayer, meditation, examination and some suitable penance.
We all encounter spiritual desolation–it’s nothing to be embarrassed about–you’re in good company. The next time you find yourself struggling with spiritual desolation, don’t just sit there and take it. Change yourself–with God’s grace–free yourself.
It is written, ‘Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’ Being like serpents means not ignoring the attacks and wiles of the devil (St. Syncletica, 4th Century Desert Hermit).
6 thoughts on “Change Yourself To Become Free From Desolation!”
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Wonderful stuff! Thank you. And. just what I needed on an overcast Monday morning that encourages desolation.
Sounds like a time to ponder Phil 4:8. Thanks for your kind words. God bless you – Dom
If a previously instituted spiritual practice or commitment is not producing the anticipated results, it may not be suited for you. Looking elsewhere may provide better results. All spiritual practices are not created equal. I found mine in Scripture after having searched elsewhere. Spiritual desolation may be the result of remaining in an ineffective spiritual practice.
“…we ought not to change our former resolutions in time of desolation…”