Most of us will, at least from time to time, have experienced the all but overwhelming and crushing pressure of what has rightly been described as the most insidious of all temptations.

How prone we are to these feelings of intense despondency and discouragement is down partly to our personality and past history, and partly to the intensity of the challenges we are facing.

Whatever the origin of these feelings, they test our earnestness in seeking God, and lie at the heart of our spiritual warfare — for this is where we need the courage to face the things that have stalled or taken wrong turns in our lives, and to pour out our hearts to the Lord where repentance is the proper response.

Many of us will, I think, find this article really helpful, therefore, concerning Thérèse of Lisieux, who is a greatly loved and honoured figure, and by no means only amongst Catholics. (I have visited the house she grew up in in Lisieux, and read pretty well everything she ever wrote, including a large body of her letters).

Who would have imagined that the hastily written life story of an outwardly unremarkable young nun, which she jotted down in the scraps of spare time she had available, even whilst suffering from terminal tuberculosis, would become one of the all-time spiritual classics?

Or that she, who had never committed any notable sin whatsoever, would prove so eminently helpful for millions of us who have far more on their conscience!

Whether or not this theme has any immediate application for us personally, let’s use it as a launch pad to pray for people who are in the throes of feeling useless, abandoned, and despairing . . . Or even just a bit down!

https://www.saintpatricksainthedwig.church/st-therese-the-greatest-sinner-of-modern-times

One friend I sent this article to replied:

‘Dear Thérèse and her Story of a Soul – exquisitely beautiful and pure, and a text which keeps on giving. The deeper my felt sense/experience of God’s utterly deep and unconditional love and desire for me, the more I find myself drawn to confession and a more acute awareness of my own sin. This was a key part of my journey through The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola and is now such a gift to offer to others. In spiritual direction too, I’m noticing more and more people wanting a confidential space to confess their sins to another – and this always goes hand in hand with a deepening awareness of God’s personal love for them. Oh how precious is the infinite love of God which woos us and longs for us to come to the Father as vulnerable little children.

‘I love too how 1 Cor 13 puts it that ‘Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” God’s not thrilled when we go off on our own track but my! How He rejoices with us/over us/round us when we recognise where we are – the truth – which He reveals through Holy Spirit in us when we come to Him in confession. What a wonderful freeing place to be!!! Continuing the theme of praying for those who are in the grip of despair, I had a dream recently in which I was visiting an elderly farmer in his farmhouse; he was in near total despair.

The loneliness and despair of many farmers has been increasingly reported in recent years – we can be sure that present drought conditions are intensifying this more and more. Let’s continue to pray for all who are affected by the drought – or by any other kind of despair.

Here are three offerings to help and perhaps pass on:

Francis Cumming’s song at the end of this track based on Psalm 25 is just brilliant: My eyes are ever on you

and then there is this really lovely track from Spirit of Prayer: I receive Your love

See also various quotes from Francis de Sales on the subject.