Overcoming spiritual fatigue

Spiritual life is a calling. In creating me, God calls me to life, so that I may know, love and serve Him. The history of salvation is a history of callings. When God called Abraham, He said to him: ‘Leave your country and go to the land that I will show you’. When God called Moses, he said to him: ‘I am sending you to save my people’. In the same way, he called prophets such as Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel and others. The history of salvation cannot be conceived without a call. Jesus calls you to him, too. What is your response? What do you say to him? Just as he called his disciples to follow him, so Jesus calls us to be with him. Your happiness depends on your response to his call. But it is not enough simply to respond positively to his call; you must then faithfully follow in his footsteps. When God called Moses, he told him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. And by his power, they crossed the sea. But they had to cross the desert to reach the Promised Land. And this journey would not be without its trials. The people suffered from thirst in the desert. The Israelites fought wars. They went hungry and longed for the meat and onions of Egypt. The Israelites even made an idol, a golden calf, which they worshipped.

Spiritual life, therefore, cannot be conceived of without difficulties. For time and again, when faced with their sufferings, people complain against God and thus grow weary on their journey towards Him. Yet no man or woman can live without experiencing tribulations. Many Christians grow weary very quickly in their spiritual life. But the consequences of spiritual weariness are not to be taken lightly. When a lion lies in wait for prey in a herd, the animal that grows weary becomes an easy target. It lags behind and is easily caught. ‘The devil, like a roaring lion, prowls around seeking someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). Here are some signs of spiritual weariness: a lack of desire to pray and a lack of effort in one’s spiritual life. A lack of desire to read the Bible. One no longer lives out the Word of God or the exercises in the prayer sheet. Even when one does, one quickly gives up on the efforts to please Jesus. One has little enthusiasm for evangelising and sometimes even feels ashamed of one’s faith. Community life becomes a burden. You find excuses not to attend group meetings and community activities. You no longer wish to make a financial contribution. Your heart is full of criticism of others.

So we must avoid becoming spiritually weary, and if we do become so, we must fight against this weariness. We make such great efforts in our everyday lives – in sport, in diets for weight loss or health, and in our professional work. God does not want spiritual weariness to paralyse our journey towards him. He will sustain us, just as he provided manna for his people in the desert. He also gave bread and water to the prophet Elijah so that he might have the strength to continue on his way. ‘Get up and eat, for the journey ahead is too long for you’ (1 Kings 19:7). We must therefore shake off our spiritual lethargy and not allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep.

A major retreat is an opportunity for spiritual reawakening. Pope Paul VI said that there can be no new world without men and women renewed by a true inner conversion. One of the important tools we use for this renewal of our being is retreats. Retreats have always helped me in my relationship with Jesus. I look forward to them with fervour and enthusiasm. Anyone who truly wishes to break out of their lethargy and make progress in their spiritual life will need to make room in their life to take part in retreats. They should also help others to take part in retreats. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to help us desire to take part in retreats and to encourage others to do so too.

Henri Bayemi