From Desolation to Consolation
Where do I go from here?
After a long stretch of spiritual desolation, I finally feel closer to God. In a recent post about navigating doubt and hardship while keeping my faith alive, I described consolation as “a sense of closeness to God, peace, hope, or spiritual joy, even in hardship.”
More Doubtful than Devoted
A week before I joined the Church at the Easter Vigil, I wrote to Father Moleski, a priest who had inspired me during college nearly 40 years earlier. I wanted him to know that the seeds he had planted so long ago had finally begun to bloom, and to thank him for his compassion, acceptance, and humor. To my surprise, he wrote back and offered me this war…
Now that I’m coming out of my time of desolation, I’m wondering: what does going deeper in faith actually look like? At the same time, I want to keep in mind Father Moleski’s advice from St. John Henry Newman: “In consolation, ever to be sober.”
Here’s what my current spiritual routine looks like:
Morning: Our Father prayer + daily Mass readings
Daytime: Bible in a Year and/or Catechism in a Year podcast
Evening: Daily gospel exegesis podcast
Weekly: Sunday Mass
This rhythm has kept me grounded, but I’m curious about the next step. I’ve tried things like the daily examen, a daily rosary, or extra podcasts, but they didn’t really stick.
I’d love to hear from you:
What has helped you go deeper in your faith?
Are there practices, devotions, or ways of serving that have truly made a difference?
How do you go deeper in faith without overloading yourself?
I’m grateful to be in a season of consolation again, and I would really appreciate any advice, stories, or ideas you’re willing to share.