What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual Direction is a pastoral relationship with a particular focus on a person’s relationship with God in day-to-day life.  It helps one to “…see what the Father is doing…” (John 5.19) not just in a moment in time, but over time amidst the peaks and valleys of life. This kind of relationship is meant to assist someone in going deeper in their relationship with God, growing in attentiveness to His Presence, learning to hear his voice, and clarifying one’s vocational purpose, the truest version of themselves. 

Oftentimes, we find ourselves caught in busy-ness and losing a sense of our center. Spiritual direction allows one to pay attention to the still, small voice of God within, as well as those things that are crying out from within us yearning to be heard--the questions we have for God, the invitations we sense from God, the longings of our hearts, the things we must lament, just to name a few.  In a word, spiritual direction is co-discernment.  In a phrase, it is giving speech to your soul. We know from the Psalms, that doing this - giving speech to our souls - matters and does something profound in our life with God.

Here are a few contemporary definitions
of spiritual direction:

  • “As a spiritual director, I see myself as a companion to people on their journeys. As a companion, I accompany others who become more fully who they have been created to be, sinking their roots deep into the living waters of God’s grace and bearing fruit in the world.” Susan S. Phillips

  • “We define Christian spiritual direction, then, as help given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with God, and to live out the consequences of that relationship.” William A. Barry and William J. Connolly

     

  • “What is the purpose of a spiritual director? His (or her) direction is simply and clearly to lead us to our real director. (The director) is a means of God to open the path to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit.” Richard Foster

     

  • “(Spiritual direction) is recognizing God’s amazing work in us and among us in the ordinariness of human existence.” Margaret Guenther

     

  • “Spiritual direction is the pastoral work that is historically termed the cure (or care) of souls…The cure of souls, then, is the Scripture-directed, prayer-shaped care that is devoted to persons singly or in groups…(it) is cultivated awareness that God has already seized the initiative. God has been working diligently, redemptively, and strategically before I appeared on the scene, before I was aware there was something here for me to do.” Eugene Peterson

  • Most sessions are monthly and around an hour long, beginning with a time of centering (usually with a spiritual practice of some sort to assist you and allow space for silence, to reflect and breathe for a moment).  Then, there is typically movement into conversation, where the director allows you to break the silence.  The Director will not direct the content of the conversation (you get to talk about what is on your heart and spiritually relevant), but will help focus and direct the conversation with questions, noticings, and response as the Spirit leads.  It is a different kind of conversation—it is a patient conversation and there is lots of space for silence, reflection, and even interaction with God.  It is also focused on you and your life with God and it will not be a typical back-and-forth conversation like you’re used to with most relationships.  Usually there is a closing time of prayer or reflection and looking ahead toward next time.

  • The hope is that you feel a freedom to be completely honest in spiritual direction—not saying the things you feel like you “should” feel or think or do, but speaking as accurately as you feel and are experiencing them.  People come in all sorts of states and seasons of the soul—A spiritual director enjoys journeying with people through any of these, because we know God wants to meet you wherever you are.  God invites all of your questions, concerns, and emotions—and a spiritual director desires to be present as any of these come up in Spiritual Direction. Everything is kept confidential, unless there is risk of harm.

     

  • Consider beginning with a spiritual director today. Contact us here or email helenhicks@sustainablefaith.co.uk for our directory link and password where you will find a host of spiritual directors.

    There may be a spiritual director in your area, or there is the option to meet at a distance online. We invite you to prayerfully read through the spiritual directors’ bios, consider days/times that work with your schedule as well as your budget, and then reach out to them directly. It is not unusual to reach out to more than one to see if this is the right person for you. Most spiritual directors will meet with you for a free introduction. Then they can hear a bit of your story, answer questions you have about spiritual direction and can help you discern if this is a fit!