✨ Amanda opens up with a vulnerable and personal account of her own experience with spiritual desolation—a season of feeling distant from God’s love and wondering if the joy she once knew would return.

✨ She shares honestly about her internal struggles, the heartbreak she carried, and even the urge to skip church… but also how she made the choice to show up and seek God’s guidance anyway.

✨ In this episode, Amanda draws on the wisdom of St. Ignatius and his rules for discernment to navigate that difficult season.

✨ She highlights how the enemy often tries to trap us in the past (through regret, shame, or heaviness) or in the future (through fear and anxiety).

✨ But she gently reminds us that God owns the future, and He is always present with us—right here, right now.

✨ Amanda emphasizes the importance of prayer, scripture, and community in times of desolation.

✨ She encourages her listeners to remember they are never truly alone, that the heaviness will not last forever, and that God is always ready to guide and support us.

✨ She also invites us to ask, “What is God trying to teach me in this moment?”—so we can find hope in the present instead of being paralyzed by fear of the future or regret of the past.

🌿 Key Takeaways

✅ Spiritual desolation feels like being disconnected from God’s love and unsure if joy will return.

✅ The enemy tries to trap us in the past (regret, shame, heaviness) or the future (fear, anxiety).

✅ God owns the future and is always present with us in the moment.

✅ Prayer, scripture, and community are essential in times of desolation.

✅ You are never alone—God is always available to guide and support you.

✅ Hope is found in the present moment, not in fear or regret.

🌸 Practical Recommendations

✅ Seek God’s guidance and support during times of desolation.

✅ Remind yourself that you are not walking this season alone.

✅ Focus on the present and ask God what He is teaching you now.

✅ Stay anchored in prayer, scripture, and community.

✅ Choose hope in the present moment instead of letting fear or regret hold you captive.