Discernment

Discernment is not just Christian decision making.  That is a quote from one of my favorite priests and I appreciate the relevance of it to the conversation these days.  It’s become so trendy to talk about discerning a direction in life.  Please hear me say that there are big (like vocation-sized) decisions in life that require a period of discernment.  However, where to go on vacation likely doesn’t.  

When we talk about discernment, what it really comes down to is taking captive all the thoughts and voices in your head and figuring out from whom they’re coming.  Another favorite quote of mine was most recently said by Stephanie Burke, “Some of the voices in your head are not yours and you don’t have to listen to them.”  

While the evil one cannot make you do anything, he can put thoughts into your head and whisper words into your ear.  He cannot read your thoughts, but he can, and does, study your words and actions and listen to your interactions and see what you look at and read.  He can take that and whisper thoughts into your mind that are meant for your demise.  He can’t make you do anything, so his goal is to get you to give up by feeling defeated, unworthy, and tempted into despair.  Discernment is the process by which you can learn and then listen to the voice of God.

When you evaluate the thoughts and voices in your head and in your life, you can learn which ones come from God so that then you can focus in on that voice.  You then can follow what it tells you and go where it leads you.  When you have identified the voice of God, you can learn to deny and tune out the other voices that are meant to take you away from the Will of God.  

We know that we are not only able to, but meant to hear and know the voice of God.  In the book of John we read that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  His sheep hear and know His voice and follow where He leads them (to verdant pastures and streams of flowing water).  God said it in Sacred Scripture, then it’s true and we can trust it.  

That means if you feel like you don’t know the voice of God, you can learn to.  Yes, it takes time to get to know someone’s voice, and the enemy sews doubt to keep you questioning what you hear rather than trusting.  But no matter where you are in your journey, you can know that the devil is never going to dupe you into holiness.  He’s not going to tempt you into a close relationship with Our Lord.  So you look at the fruit.

If you are reading Scripture and asking God to lead you, and the fruit is joy, peace, patience, goodness and an increase of faith, then you are moving in your path to holiness. 

Give yourself space to be quiet and listen for the voice of God.  Be patient with yourself in the time it takes both to get used to the silence as well as the time it takes to learn the voice of the Father.  You can trust that He is pursuing you.  He is not far away.  You don’t have to find Him.  You only have to turn to Him and He will come to you.