Have you ever noticed the subtle ways God is present in your life? The spiritual path can feel like a lonely and confusing journey. There may be questions you have or spiritual experiences you long to share with someone you trust, so you can gain clarity and understanding. Could spiritual direction provide the answers you are looking for?
Read on to discover what spiritual direction is, how it differs from traditional counselling, and the benefits it can have for your spiritual growth.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction focuses on helping a person embrace spirituality and discover how it manifests in their life. It is a conversation between two people, in which a spiritual director holds space for a person to recognize the work of God and the Holy Spirit in their life.
William A. Barry, a spiritual director and author of The Practice of Spiritual Direction, defines spiritual direction as a way of helping people strengthen their relationship with God. Having someone to share personal experiences with and help you reflect on what is happening from God’s perspective can allow you to build the faith needed to work through troubling issues. Each spiritual direction session provides a sacred space for non-judgemental listening, spiritual counsel, and deepening a person’s experience of God.
Features of Spiritual Direction
Being in conversation with someone who has experienced deepening their spiritual connection is a great way to help you reflect on your journey with God. Here’s what you can expect to experience during a session:
- A Safe Space: Whatever you choose to share or question is always kept confidential. You are free to share your thoughts and experiences of Christianity, spiritual life, and ways you have encountered God’s love.
- A Non-Judgemental Companion: The Spiritual Director walks beside you on your spiritual journey, accepting you for who and where you are. They respect that your journey towards a deeper relationship with spiritual life is unique to you. The conversation during a session is one of listening and reflection.
- Guidance Towards God’s Wisdom: The Spiritual Director helps you understand your experiences and pay attention to the Spirit and its subtle messages within your life.
How Can Spiritual Direction Help You?
Spiritual direction can assist you in numerous ways. Perhaps you are confused and struggling with spiritual life or have issues you are working through. Maybe you feel a call to gain more clarity on God and long to experience God’s love more deeply. Wherever you find yourself right now, spiritual direction can enhance your awareness of God’s presence in your life and help deepen your relationship with the Spirit.
Finding Spiritual Direction
It’s important to find the right person who can be your spiritual guide and a channel for God’s wisdom to flow through to you. This could be someone you already know and trust, with whom you feel you can open up. A good spiritual director has a strong faith, is spiritually committed, and is an empathetic listener capable of discerning God’s presence in your life. The most important thing is that you feel instinctively drawn to working with this person and feel at ease.
Spiritual direction sessions typically occur face-to-face or online if an in-person meeting is not possible.
Counselling vs. Spiritual Direction
Both counselling and spiritual direction use similar skills, providing a safe space where active listening helps a person feel supported and become more aware. However, depending on what you hope to achieve, one may be more useful than the other. Counselling tends to focus on solving problems, whereas spiritual direction is about strengthening faith and embracing God’s presence in life. Spiritual direction employs prayer and spiritual exercises to fortify one’s connection to God. Whatever struggles a person experiences, a strong connection to God will help them deal with these challenges, allowing them to notice the teaching within the pain.
Deepening Your Spiritual Connection
If you’re feeling the call to deepen your relationship with God, seeking support through spiritual direction can enhance your awareness of how God moves within your life. Get in touch today to book your free 30-minute consultation and discover more about our spiritual coaching services.
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