In Times of Spiritual Dryness, be Patient

“No sooner will you have given yourself up to serve the Lord in this inward way, than he will begin to purify you and try your faith in order to draw you nearer to himself. And, for this purpose he will lead you through the paths of dryness and desertion, so that when you endeavour to fix your mind in silence, in order to feel after your God, you will not experience the comfort and refreshment you expected. But, on the contrary, you will be more than usually beset with a multitude of troublesome and importunate imaginations, insomuch that you will begin to think that you labour to no purpose, and that the prayer of internal silence is an attainment to which you need not aspire, seeing that your imagination is so ungovernable, and your mind so void of good. But this state of dryness is very profitable, if it be suffered with patience.

The Lord makes use of the veil of dryness, to the end we may not know what he is working in us, and so may be humble; because, if we felt, and knew, what he was working in our souls, satisfaction and presumption would get in; we should imagine we were doing some good thing, and reckon ourselves very near to God; and this self-complacency would prevent our spiritual advancement.”

— François Fenelon, Jeanne Guyon, Miguel de Molinos, 1813
A Guide to True Peace

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Today’s Invitation

Next time you’re in a period of spiritual dryness and desertion be patient and look for the ways God is “making use of the veil of dryness.”

Daily emails will resume tomorrow, September 2nd.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Authors

  • François Fenelon

    François de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon (1651-1715) was a French theologian and writer. He was Tutor to the Duke of Burgundy (grandson of Louis XIV) and Archbishop of Cambrai. He lost these positions and fell into disgrace after publishing in favor of Quietism.

    View all posts
  • Jeanne Guyon

    Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon (commonly known as Madame Guyon, 1648 – 1717) was a French Christian accused of advocating Quietism, which was considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church. Madame Guyon was imprisoned from 1695-1703 after publishing the book A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer.

    View all posts
  • Miguel de Molinos

    Miguel de Molinos (1628-1696) was a Spanish mystic, the chief representative of the religious revival known as Quietism. Molinos was the leader of the Roman chapter of the School of Christ. He was also well known as a spiritual director.

    View all posts