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Can Too Much Comfort Leave Us Spiritually Confused?

CHAPTER IX

Of The Want of All Consolation

In this chapter, good Thomas takes us out of our comfort zone by explaining how we love comfort, consolation, softness and the easy route.  And while there is nothing intrinsically wrong with such comfort, that it is no comparison to divine comfort.  And that, along the spiritual walk, we will encounter a great deal of discomfort, uneasiness, and challenges of all sorts in body, mind and spirit.

With Divine comfort, Thomas reminds us: "You ride at ease when you are carried by the grace of God."  That God's Grace makes everything bearable.  Thomas gives us two examples in St. Lawrence and St. Sixtus...worth a quick read.  How these men dealt with the challenges to their faith and ultimately died for the faith is a remarkable story of self sacrifice.

With such examples, Thomas again tells us to over come our own self so we can grow closer to Christ.  And when that takes place, he tells us, expect a "dry period" and much temptation.  But prayer and reliance will see you through this tough time.

Thomas ends this chapter by warning us that in spiritual warfare, the devil does not sleep,  And because you are alive, your flesh is subject to temptation.  And therefore, you must continually ready yourself for this battle.

Until next time, thank you for reading and praying along with me.
Be imitators of Christ!
tim
It is not hard to despise human comfort when we have divine comfort. But it is a great thing, yes, very great, to be able to bear the loss both of human and divine comfort; and for the love of God be willing to bear the exile of your heart, and to seek yourself in nothing, nor to look to your own merits.

What great matter is it, if you are cheerful of heart and devout when grace comes to you? That is an hour wherein all rejoice. You ride at ease when you are carried by the grace of God.
And what wonder is it if you feel no burdens when you are carried by the Almighty, and led onwards by the Guide from on high?

2. We are willing to accept anything for comfort, and it is difficult for us to be freed from our self. The Martyr, St. Lawrence overcame the love of the world with guidance from his Prelate, because Laurence rejected everything in the world which seemed to be pleasant; and for the love of Christ he calmly suffered even God's chief priest, Sixtus, whom he dearly loved, to be taken from him.

Thus by the love of the Creator he overcame the love of humans, and instead of human comfort Lawrence chose God's good pleasure instead.

You also need to learn to resign close and beloved friends for the love of God. When you have been deserted by a friend, do not take it to heart, knowing that we must all be parted from one another in the end.
3. You must go through a long and great conflict in yourself before you can learn fully to overcome yourself, and to draw your whole affection towards God. When you rely upon yourself, you easily slip away into human comforts. But a true lover of Christ, and a diligent seeker after virtue, does not fall back upon those comforts, nor seek such sweetness as may be tasted and handled, but desires rather difficult exercises, and to undertake severe labors for Christ.

Therefore, when God gives spiritual comfort, receive it with thanksgiving, but know that it is the gift of God, not by your merit.

4. Do not be lifted up, or rejoice too soon, nor foolishly presume, but rather be more humble for the gift, more wary and more careful in all your doings; for this hour will pass away, and temptation will follow.

When comfort is taken from you, do not immediately despair, but wait for the heavenly visitation with humility and patience, for God is able to restore to you greater favor and consolation (Joel 2:25). This is neither new nor strange to those who have experienced the ways of God, for with the great saints and the ancient prophets there was often this manner of change.

5. Hence one said when the favor of God was present with him, “In my abundance I shall never be moved,”(Ps 30:6) but he goes on to say what he felt within himself when the favor departed: “You turned Your face from me, and I was troubled.(Ps 30:8)”
In spite of this, the disciple in no way despairs, but more earnestly entreats God, and says, “Unto You, O Lord, will I cry, and will pray unto my God. (Ps 30:9);”

At length the disciple receives the fruit of his prayer, and testifies how he has been heard, saying, “The Lord heard me and had mercy upon me, the Lord was my helper. (Ps 30:11)”
But where and in what manner? “You have turned my heaviness into joy, You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness (Ps 30:12).” If it was this way with the great saints, we who are poor and needy ought not to despair if we are sometimes in the warmth and sometimes in the cold, for the Spirit comes and goes according to the good pleasure of His will (Jn 3:8)). Wherefore holy Job says, “You observe your servant in the morning, and suddenly You do prove him.”( Job 7:18)

6. At what point then can I hope, or wherein may I trust, save only in the great mercy of God, and the hope of heavenly grace? For whether the good are with me, as godly, faithful friends, whether holy books or beautiful discourses, whether sweet hymns and songs, all these help but little, and have but little savor when I am deserted by God's favor and left to mine own poverty. There is no better remedy, then, than patience and denial of self, and an abiding in the will of God.

7. I have never found anyone so devout and godly that did not at times feel a withdrawal of divine favor, or feel a lack of fervor. No saint was ever so filled with rapture, so enlightened, who did not sooner or later suffer temptation. For such a person is not worthy of the great vision of God, who, for God's sake, has not been exercised by some temptation. For temptation tends to precede such as a sign of the comfort which shall follow, and heavenly comfort is promised to those who are proved by temptation. As it is written, “To him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life (Rev 2:7).”

8. Divine consolation is given that you may be stronger in bearing adversities. And temptation follows this, as a means of subduing your pride.

The devil does not sleep; your flesh is not yet dead; therefore, continually ready yourself  for this battle, for enemies stand on your right hand and on your left, and they are never at rest.

May I Introduce You to My Friend?

Of The Imitation of Christ

Book 2, CHAPTER VIII

Of The Intimate Friendship of Jesus

Comment:  Thomas takes us into an intimate friendship with Jesus by reminding us of the goodness that attaches to His friendship:  Peace, Consolation, Purity, Joy, Holy Conversation through prayer. And for this Friend, we will even endure discomfort for His sake.  But we know it will be worth the sacrifice,   "for after winter comes summer, after night the day returns, after a storm there follows a great calm."

Who can you be Christ to this week?  Who can you befriend on behalf of our Lord?

Thanks for reading and praying through this with me.
Until next time, be imitators of Christ!
tim

When Jesus is present all is well and nothing seems difficult, but when Jesus is not present

everything is difficult. When Jesus does not speak to us within, our comfort is worthless; but if Jesus speaks only one word of comfort, we feel great consolation.

Did not Mary Magdalene immediately arise from the place where she wept when Martha said to her, “The Master is here and calls for you (Jn 11:28)?”   Happy is the hour when Jesus calls you from tears to the joy of the spirit!
How dry and hard-hearted you are without Jesus! How foolish and vain you are when you desire anything else beyond Jesus! Is  this not a greater loss than if you were to lose the whole world (Lk 9:25)?

2. What can the world profit you without Jesus? To be without Jesus is an extreme hell, and to be with Jesus is sweet paradise. If Jesus were with you no enemy could hurt you. Whoever finds Jesus finds a good treasure, yes, good above all good; and whoever loses Jesus loses much, yes, more than the whole world. Whoever lives without Jesus is in poverty, and whoever abides with Jesus is among the rich.

3. It is great art to know how to converse with Jesus, and to know how to keep Jesus close is great wisdom. Be humble and peaceful and Jesus shall be with you. Be godly and quiet, and Jesus will remain with you.

You can quickly drive away Jesus and lose His grace if you turn towards outward things. And if you have put Him to flight and lost Him, to whom will you flee, and whom then will you seek for a friend? Without such a friend you cannot live long, and if Jesus is not your friend above all you shall be very sad and desolate.
You act foolishly, therefore, if you trust or find joy in any other. We should wish to have the entire world against us, rather than to have Jesus offended. Therefore of all that are dear to you, let Jesus be especially beloved.

4. Let all things be loved for Jesus' sake, but Jesus for His own sake. Jesus Christ alone is to be specially loved, for He alone is found good and faithful above all friends. For His sake, and in Him, let both enemies and friends be dear to you, and pray for them all that they may all know and love Him.

Never desire to be especially praised or loved, because this belongs to God alone, Who has none like to Himself.  Neither desire that any one’s heart should be set on you, nor give yourself up to the love of anyone else, but let Jesus be in you and in every devoted disciple.



Forgiven, by Thomas Blackshear

 5. Be pure and free within yourself, without being entangled by creatures. You ought to bring a bare and clean heart to God, if you desire to be ready to see how gracious is the Lord (Ps 34:9).

And in truth, unless you be prevented and drawn on by His grace, you will not attain to this, that having cast out and dismissed all else, you alone are united to God.  For when the grace of God comes to a disciple, then that disciple becomes able to do all things, and when it departs then the disciple will be poor and weak and given up unto troubles.

In all these things you are not to be dejected nor despair; but to rest with calm mind on the will of God, and to bear all things which come upon you for the glory of Jesus Christ; for after winter comes summer, after night the day returns, after a storm there follows a great calm.

Where Am I? On Finding Jesus

Book 2, CHAPTER VII:

Of The Love of Jesus above All Things

Comment:  Thomas a'Kempis lays out this simple concept - if you seek to "find yourself" you are more hurtful to yourself than if the whole world and all your adversaries lined up against you.  Rather, he tells us, if you put an intional effort into seeking the love of Jesus, you won't need to look any further,

Until next time, be imitators of Christ!

tim

"Blessed is the disciple who understands what it is to love Jesus, and to disregard all self concern 

for1 Tim 6:10)  Jesus' sake. The disciple must give up all treasured things for The Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things. The love of created things is deceiving and unstable, but the love of Jesus is faithful and lasting.

Whoever cleaves to created things will fall with their slipperiness; but the disciple who embraces Jesus will stand upright forever.  Love Jesus and hold Him for your friend, for He will not forsake you when all depart from you, nor will Jesus suffer you to perish at the last (Heb 13:5). You must one day be separated from all, whether you will it or not.

2. In life and in death, keep yourself near to Jesus and commit yourself unto His fidelity, Who, when all others fail you, is alone able to help you. Your Beloved is such, by nature, that He will not permit a rival, but He alone will possess your heart, and as a King will sit upon His own throne.

If you would learn to empty your heart of every created thing, Jesus would freely take up His abode with you. You will find all trust placed in mankind corrupted: But not so with our Lord Jesus. Do not trust not nor lean upon a reed shaken with the wind, because “all flesh is grass, and their glory falls like the flower of the field (Is 40:6).

3. If you look only upon the outward appearance of men, you will be quickly deceived, for if you seek your comfort and profit in others, you shall too often experience loss. If you seek Jesus in all things you shall truly find Jesus, but if you seek yourself you shall also find yourself, but to your own detriment. For if you do not seek Jesus you are more hurtful to yourself than all the world and all your adversaries."

You Are What You Are, and You Aint What You Aint



Hyacinth Bucket:  Keeping up
 Appearances



Thomas finishes Chapter 6 with a reminder:  You are what you are, and you aint what you aint (there's a great John Prine song there, have a listen...."Dear Abby")!  In other words, as your conscience is pure, you are at peace.  And you can't be more than what the Lord has gifted you to be - and it's okay to be content with that station in life and in skill.  Keeping up appearances is vain and a waste of time.  Just ask Mrs. Bucket (pronounced boo-kay).

God asks us to walk with Him.  What else matters?

Until next time, be imitators of Christ! (not Mrs. Bucket!)

3. A disciple will easily be contented and filled with peace, whose conscience is pure. You are none the holier if you are praised, nor the worse if you are reproached.  You are what you are; and you cannot be better than God pronounces you to be.

If you consider well what you are inwardly, you will not care what others will say to you. Men look to the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Sam 16:7). Man considers on the action, but God considers the intention.

It is the token of an humble spirit always to do well, and to set little account by one’s self. To refuse comfort from any created thing is a sign of great purity and inward faithfulness.

4. The disciple that seeks no outward witness, shows plainly that commitment wholly to God. “For not he that commends himself is approved,” as St. Paul says, “but whom the Lord commends.”(2 Cor. 10:18)  To walk with God, and not to be held by any outer affections, is the state of a disciple of Christ (Mi. 6:8).