God is Closer Than You Think | Ignatian Rule 7 Explained

Even in desolation, God has not abandoned you. In this episode, Jordan and Dan Burke explore Rule 7 of St. Ignatius’ spiritual exercises, revealing how faith, prayer, and mental discipline can help you recognize God’s presence—even when He feels distant. Resources Mentioned in this series: Immediate Action Plan Habitual Sin Course:  Examination of Conscience Holy Habits App Seven Deadly Sins Hidden Faults Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits Timestamp Summary: 0:01 Overcoming Desolation Through Adjusted Thinking and Spiritual Guidance 3:10 Spiritual Growth Amidst Mental Health Challenges 5:19 Embracing Trials to Achieve Virtue and Strength in Faith 9:31 Balancing Physical and Spiritual Strength Against Life's Challenges 12:50 Delayed Consequences and Human Decision-Making 15:26 Overcoming Sin and Building Virtue Through Divine Grace 18:25 Navigating Spiritual Growth Through Consolations and Desolations 21:42 Strategies for Resisting Desolation in Spiritual Practices 23:41 Renouncing Negative Thoughts Through Faith and Prayer 26:09 Harnessing Divine Help for Spiritual and Psychological Challenges 31:36 Overcoming Trauma Through Faith and Scripture 40:13 Combating Temptation Through Scripture and Spiritual Identity Key Takeaways: Rule 7 of Ignatius’s guidelines provides strategies for overcoming spiritual desolation by recognizing and resisting negative influences with divine help. Feelings of weakness during desolation are opportunities to reinforce one's faith, leveraging God’s unwavering presence, even when it is not felt. Practical steps include using renunciations to counteract lies and distractions, replacing them with scripture-based truths and prayer to invite divine assistance. The episode highlights a robust interaction between faith and psychology, illustrating how spiritual teachings can support mental health and emotional well-being. Ignatian spirituality draws deeply from biblical teachings, offering time-tested strategies for personal and spiritual growth.