Comparing Our Work and the Battle of Our Spiritual LIfe - Part 2

Last time we saw how discouragement can sink its hooks into us and undermine our efforts in both our work and our spiritual lives. What is it about discouragement that makes it hard to shake sometimes? Whether we're discouraged at work, or discouraged in our spiritual life, the source of our relief should be clear to any serious Catholic: Our Lord. Not comfort food, booze, drugs - the list gets worse, but let's move on. Let's remember how much Our Lord loves us. Holy Week and Easter just reinforced that knowledge. And because we know He loves us infinitely, we know that we can ask Him for help any time day or night. So wouldn't that apply when we're discouraged?

Fr. Michel, S.J. (1712 - ?) has some particularly interesting things to say about lingering discouragement. Last time we saw how we fell into its grip as a result of the devil convincing us of our weakness in the face of difficulties and temptations. Fr. Michel continues:

“Let us now see how we are apt to behave under this species of temptation. Entirely absorbed by the thought of our weakness, and the difficulties of what we have undertaken, we fall into discouragement, instead of exclaiming with holy King David: ‘Though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils: for Thou art with me.’ In this state of discouragement we have but a feeble hope that God will help us; we hardly expect it, we scarcely dare to ask for it; perhaps, even, we fear to attain it, lest it should oblige us to relinquish certain favorite inclinations. In this condition, despairing of being able to persevere in such a life of self-violence, we struggle but feebly, if at all. Our first relapse serves to confirm this impression – that it is useless for us to resist, and that we must only wait for the time when our passions shall be weaker. Henceforward, everything becomes more difficult. Disgust and the spirit of indifference with regard to our duties take possession of our mind and heart, and these duties are thus rendered only more arduous. Our exercises of piety we omit altogether, or acquit ourselves of them so carelessly that they can scarcely be pleasing to God. A dissipated and distracted state of mind and heart succeeds the interior life which we formerly led. We abandon our pious practices, resist grace, silence the voice of our conscience, and even avoid entertaining good thoughts. We follow only the bent of our inclinations and caprices, where we meet with no resistance. In His mercy God may at times speak to us, but we have begun to dread the voice that would urge us to shake off the bonds of sloth and lukewarmness. This is the point to which the enemy of our salvation has sought to lead us; he wished to prevent us from reflection and from working for our salvation; and he has succeeded. These details are perhaps lengthy, but they may help you to understand the enemy’s plan of attack, and enable you to prepare a defense which shall defeat his designs.”

Giving in to our weakness is bad enough. But did you catch Father's reference to our distaste in giving up "certain favorite inclinations"? In case you missed it: "...we have but a a feeble hope that God will help us; we hardly expect it, we scarcely dare to ask for it; perhaps, even, we fear to attain it, lest it should oblige us to relinquish certain favorite inclinations..." I hope you get the point. And I hope you know that we're all in that particular boat together. It's part of our fallen nature. We don't want to give up "certain things." Even St. Augustine prayed "Lord, make me pure, but not yet."

Here we might point out a critical difference between our work and our spiritual lives, one that might help steer us back on the road to salvation if ever we square off against the power of discouragement. At work, our motivation to get out of our funk will eventually be forced on us. We either shape up or ship out. Unless you're independently wealthy, you need to work for a living. In the spiritual life, we don't have what we might call the "luxury" of this practical and urgent motivation. Our Lord may be ready to pour His grace on us to help us get back in shape, but we must cooperate and be open to His grace. And it can be awfully easy to ignore Him, especially as we busy ourselves with the demands of our practical lives. It's important to remember this.

Perhaps if we remember that our "enemy" - the devil - concocts these serious bouts of discouragement, we might understand how important it is to address them quickly and from a position of strength, rather than one of weakness. Next time Father Michel will outline the design of the enemy's plan to help us regain the upper hand in the ongoing battle for holiness.

In that light, we conclude today's reflection with this from St. Paul:

"Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil." (Ephesians 6: 10-11)