I’ve been pondering spiritual experience and how sometimes you need to see all the bad things that are inside you that need to be dealt with. And again how sometimes you receive the cleansing blessing from God that tells you there is a way to wholeness and God is there to provide a way out of your mess.
Beginning in ancient times, Christian writers called the first desolation and the second consolation–not feeling God’s presence and feeling God’s presence. Ignatius counseled people to not make decisions when you are in desolation. He is correct. Making decisions when you are depressed will lead to panic decisions that will not be helpful in the long run. But just as important is to watch yourself when you are in consolation. Because that could be a euphoric feeling. Ignatius did not live in today’s environment where we are constantly presented with euphoric images of the type of people we could be if only we bought something. People have made disastrous decisions–financially and with relationships–by getting euphoric about something and doing the wrong thing.
Most important is first to understand your situation. Then prayer and study can lead you to understanding that desolation leads to consolation and consolation can be followed by desolation. Understand yourself then make balanced decisions. Reading the lives of saints, you often learn that they were often in desolation (feeling apart from God), but they practiced spiritual discipline through study, prayer and service to keep themselves balanced and open to God’s work.
This is a practice worthy of emulation.
Faith Venture 
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