I made these notes for myself but don't mind sharing them. They're based on the spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola who wrote a lot about spiritual discernment and prayerfully paying attention to our emotions. He used the language of 'consolation' and 'desolation'.
In times of desolation:
1. Don't make big changes or rash decisions. Keep to your usual routines and duties (especially your pattern of prayer).
2. Remember God is really there. Remember His promise to help us endure every desolation.
3. Patience is a virtue. Strive to persevere in patience even though it's the opposite of how you're feeling right now.
4. Think long-term. Strive against the desolation. Be assured that consolation will return in a while.
5. Starve the desolation with increased spirituality. Intensify prayer, do more examens, spend more time in meditation, praise God, think about the positive things God is doing in your life and in the world to help kick the desolation off.
6. Use times of consolation wisely to prepare for enduring the next desolation. Remember the many times God brought you out of previous desolations, and how He gave you something far better than the negative outcome you were expecting.
7. Know the enemy and don't give the enemy a foothold just because you're feeling down. (Revert to point 5)
8. Consider the reason for your desolation.
a) Have I neglected my prayer life? Have I let go of Jesus' hand?
b) Is God behind this desolation, seeing how I respond to trusting Him without feeling any consolation?
c) Is God wanting me to feel this weak so that He can show me the extent of my smallness and the extent of His power and grace and wisdom?
9. Meditate on this verse: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
[PS I personally also find praying in tongues very helpful, especially if you believe (as I do) that when you're praying in tongues you're always praying in line with God's will, or praying God's will into being somehow...]
[PS I personally also find praying in tongues very helpful, especially if you believe (as I do) that when you're praying in tongues you're always praying in line with God's will, or praying God's will into being somehow...]
