There are epic journeys that we just love. Whether it’s Frodo Baggins and his journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring, or Captain John Miller and his squad of Rangers as they search for Private Ryan, or of course the Children of Israel as they journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land.
One thing all of these journeys have in common is obstacles that need to be overcome. Our spiritual journey is no different. There will be obstacles and setbacks. It’s how we respond to the obstacles that will define our spiritual progress and our evangelization efforts. Think about the response from the Children of Israel. Some grumbled, “we were better off in slavery,” while others, like Joshua, trusted, “the Lord will provide.” Which attitude do you have? To be honest I have both.
In the journey of the spiritual life, growing towards holiness, and in the work of evangelization, a variety of obstacles will tempt or dissuade us. We may, for example, struggle to keep the discipline of prayer or to avoid distractions. We may have difficulty overcoming a particular sin. We may fail to see any fruit from our evangelization or feel reluctant to undergo the hostility and friction we get for our evangelization efforts. We may experience illness, or a death in the family, or stresses at home.
In the face of these difficulties—big or small—we often experience strong feelings of self-doubt, discouragement, fear, unworthiness, or spiritual sadness, and this harms our ability to live in the joy of the Lord, and to serve Him faithfully and fruitfully. We can be encouraged by the Sacred Scriptures. They are filled with stories of faithful people who, like us, also encountered great obstacles. Knowing the goodness of the Lord, shining forth in the Cross of Jesus, we also know that if we remain faithful, like them, our own crosses will be redeemed.
Our faith tells us that “in everything God works for good for those who love him.” So we don’t need to be overwhelmed by doubt, discouragement, fear, unworthiness, or sadness. There is no obstacle that can separate us from the love of Christ. With His help, we can over obstacles, rise above them, endure them, or simply move past them. They will not defeat us!
Through Jesus, the battle has already been won. But it still must be played out in our lives. The obstacles will come, so expect them! Now let’s look at how we can prepare for them.
First, we have to know our enemies. We need to know the things that make it especially hard for us to face and overcome obstacles. Each of us need to identify weak spots. Recognize what leads us to sin. Name (or pin point) what it is that prevents growth in holiness and in intimacy with God. The list we each come up with will be different, because each of us is unique. Is it television, or junk food? Is it some false idea such as, “I need to earn God’s love”? Is it your tendency to anger, jealousy, or gossip? Perhaps it’s a lie about yourself that you have internalized, such as, “I can never be good at that,” or “I’ll never stop doing that.” By knowing the enemy, we can be more vigilant, and we can better fight back, and protect ourselves.
For example, I’m rarely tempted by lust, but anger — especially when partnered with some sense of injustice — whoo, that will set me off! So, I’ve learned to recognize that anger and step back. Now, whatever our particular enemies might be, they come from three possible sources: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
A second part of preparing for obstacles is simply to strive for holiness. We’ve discussed this in previous lesson segments. When we’re not enduring heavy obstacles, it’s usually easier to be faithful to prayer and our duties in the midst of the day-to-day obstacles. By following the principles we mentioned earlier — such as prayer, sacraments, spiritual disciplines — we will build up our spiritual strength. This is taking the offense in preparation for the battle when it comes later, in various obstacles and trials.
Putting in the effort now, we are like the “wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Mt 7:24-25).
What do we do when great difficulties finally arrive? Here are some helpful tips:
Number one: As before, know your enemies. When you know your enemies, it is that much easier to recognize an attack when it comes. Whatever your situation, identify the source of the problem. What from the world or the flesh is leading you to temptation? Keep in mind that the devil may be involved as well. Identify the enemy and treat it as such. Do not be deceived into treating enemies as friends.
Number two: Prayerfully read the Book of Sirach, chapter 2. It begins with the words, “My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation,” and continues with powerful words of encouragement to persevere.
Number three: Pour out your heart to the Lord. Pray. Entrust your difficulties to Jesus. Ask Him for help. Ask Him especially for the Holy Spirit, and the virtues you need to overcome the obstacles: trust, courage, perseverance, faith, and so on. Reading the Psalms prayerfully is a great way to do this. Another helpful way to pray is meditative prayer such as the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, or the Jesus prayer. These prayers help us to find calm and reorient ourselves towards the God who loves us. They can sometimes lead to meditative silence and contemplation, where you maintain loving attention on the Lord in silence. These moments are healing.
Number four: Go beyond identifying your enemies and define the precise temptation. Whatever it is, reject it and do the opposite. What does the world, the flesh, or the devil want you to do, or not do? If you identify the precise temptation, then it is easier to reject it before you give in and commit sin. Let’s look at despair as an example. When you identify the temptation to give in to the feeling of despair, reject it and do the opposite — which is to stir up hope! Pray in your own words. “In the Name of Jesus, I reject despair! Jesus, you are my hope!” Follow with something like Psalm 143, which says, “Make haste to answer me, O Lord, my spirit fails… Let your good Spirit lead me on a level path… ” Finally, do something proactive that expresses your hope, like taking a walk, doing work around the house, or calling a friend to make plans for the weekend. Something that expresses the conviction that life is worth living.
Number five: Turn to trusted friends—faithful Catholics—and tell them your troubles. I love the passage in Sirach that says, “A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.” It really is a great blessing to have a friend who shares your faith life. Someone you can go to for advice, encouragement, and prayer. In times of trouble go to them and ask for their help.
These are just some of the practical steps we can take as we progress on our spiritual journey. We expect and prepare for the obstacles that will come, and then take up the battle with courage and confidence once it arrives, knowing that by conquering the enemy, we will grow stronger in our relationship with Jesus.