{"id":22559,"date":"2025-04-25T11:59:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T16:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openbiblemessage.org\/?p=22559"},"modified":"2025-04-25T12:30:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T17:30:16","slug":"discovering-spiritual-direction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openbiblemessage.org\/es\/2025\/04\/discovering-spiritual-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering Spiritual Direction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spiritual direction\u2026hmmm, sounds like what I get from the Holy Spirit when I pray, so why would I need to meet with a spiritual director when I can do this on my own? Seems unnecessary, right? Not to mention, I\u2019m a guy; we never ask for directions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was my thinking a few years ago, until the day I got a call from another minister who was training to be a spiritual director. She needed to log a certain number of practice hours to finish her training, and she asked if I would be her \u201cguinea pig.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The call had \u201ccoincidentally\u201d come in the middle of a challenging season; my pastoral duties felt relentless, and I was going through a profound life change. I felt empty inside as I wrestled with a nagging question: \u201cAm I really hearing God clearly?\u201d Unable to talk through my struggle with very many people, I had been feeling spiritually stuck. The person calling was someone I trusted, so I agreed to be a part of her training process. I thought I was helping her out, but little did I know this decision would stand as a cornerstone of my spiritual and mental health moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual direction is like having a wonderful (dare I say, sacred) friend who walks alongside you and gently guides you to notice and respond to the presence of God in your life.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual direction is like having a wonderful (dare I say, sacred) friend who walks alongside you and gently guides you to notice and respond to the presence of God in your life.<\/a>  Believe it or not, even the best of us can miss Him in the middle of our emotional and mental upheavals. Unlike traditional counseling or mentorship, spiritual direction focuses on deepening our relationship with God, helping us become more aware of His presence in our everyday experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Transformative Encounter: Experiencing the Father Three Ways<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s one spiritual direction session that particularly stands out in my mind. My mom had just passed away, and my dad was in the final stages of his life. It had been a tough year of loss, and I was doing my best to keep it together. As I shared with my spiritual director, she made a suggestion. She said, \u201cGary, take the next ten minutes to sit before the Father and ask Him what He wants to say to you in this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I muted the microphone, sat in silence, and stared out the window of my office into my backyard. It was a beautiful day, and the wind was rustling through the trees. Things moving by some unseen force.<\/em> As I sat there, God reminded me of three snapshots (memories) with my dad. The first was a memory of being at the beach with him when I was four and his taking me into the deep water. I remember protesting that I didn\u2019t want to go out there but also feeling safe because I was held tightly in my father\u2019s arms. The second was a memory of when I was twenty and we took a trip together. It was on that trip that I felt my father, through his actions, take his mantle of authority and leadership and place it on my shoulders. The third snapshot wasn\u2019t a true memory but a glimpse into the future. I was about to visit my dad in a month \u2013 it was to say goodbye as he was in the final stages of life on earth. My agenda was simple: I was just going to spend time with Dad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In those pictures, with the wind blowing through the trees, the Father used my father to help me encounter Him. I\u2019ll never forget the three things God whispered to me as I pondered those three snapshots:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary, I\u2019m with you; you\u2019re safe.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary, I\u2019ve given you everything you need to fulfill what I\u2019ve called you to do; I trust you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary, all I desire is for you to spend time with me and enjoy my presence.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those past and future joys were a reminder from my heavenly Father that I could take the path ahead because He was with me. I\u2019m not sure I would have had such a profound experience had it not been for the preceding conversation with my spiritual director and our subsequent debrief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Integrating Spiritual Direction into Pastoral Ministry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moments in this and following sessions have been a game changer for me, helping me become a better leader and follower. I now approach decisions with a greater sense of grounding, choosing to rely on prayerful discernment and feedback from someone who\u2019s spiritually mature and not emotionally tied to the situations. I\u2019ve also learned to listen better, not just to God but also to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual direction has been a transformative experience for me, helping me grow both personally and professionally.<\/a><\/mark><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual direction has also been a huge help with my mental health. Regular sessions provide a sanctuary from the incessant demands of ministry and allow me to process those stressors in a safe context. I\u2019ve learned to be more resilient, thanks to the reflective exploration of my spiritual journey, and I feel more balanced and purposeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a minister who hasn\u2019t tried spiritual direction yet, I highly recommend it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n