DON'T DECIDE WHEN YOU'RE DOWN: Ancient wisdom for daily decisions

What decision are you about to make today? You will make one—many, in fact. Some will be insignificant, others life-altering. It's the latter ones that demand our attention. Before you make that significant decision that could change the trajectory of your day, weekend, or future—pause. Wait. Breathe. Think. Ask yourself honestly: Am I in the right state of mind to decide this?

The cyclical downward spirals we often find ourselves trapped in frequently stem from our failure to recognize whether we're operating from a place of spiritual strength or spiritual weakness. This crucial distinction isn't modern psychology—it's ancient wisdom that remains powerfully relevant today.

Learning from an Unlikely Teacher

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuit order, developed insights that transcend denominational boundaries. While his Catholic background may seem distant from Protestant thinking, his practical wisdom about spiritual discernment offers valuable guidance for any believer seeking to make God-honoring decisions.

Ignatius distinguished between two fundamental spiritual states: consolation and desolation. Times of consolation are characterized by spiritual health, vitality, hope, and clarity—when we feel connected to God and aligned with His purposes. Times of desolation represent the opposite: discouragement, despair, doubt, and spiritual dryness—when God feels distant and our perspective becomes clouded.

This isn't merely about feeling good versus feeling bad. It's about recognizing when our spiritual compass is functioning clearly versus when it's compromised by circumstances, emotions, or spiritual attack.

The Power of Spiritual Timing

Ignatius's Rule 5 offers a deceptively simple but profound principle: In desolation, never make a change. When we find ourselves in spiritual darkness, we should stick firmly to the resolutions and convictions we held during times of clarity and spiritual health.

Why? Because desolation is the time of the "lie"—it distorts our perception and judgment. As Andrew Dean Swafford notes in his work on spiritual discernment, "it is not the time of sober thinking. It is the time of the Evil One's deception."¹ During these times, we're more vulnerable to deception and prone to choices we'll later regret.

Consider the decisions you're wrestling with today. Are you contemplating walking away from a relationship, leaving your job, or changing churches? Before you act, honestly assess your spiritual condition. If you're battling desolation, perhaps it's time to wage war against the real enemy rather than making irreversible changes.

Biblical Foundation

This wisdom aligns perfectly with Scripture's call for patient discernment. In Psalm 27:14, David writes: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Even in the midst of his enemies and fears, David counsels patient waiting rather than hasty action. Similarly, Proverbs 19:2 warns us: "Desire without knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way!"

The Bible consistently calls us to seek God's timing and wisdom, especially during our darkest moments. When Jesus faced His greatest trial in Gethsemane, He didn't make hasty decisions but submitted to the Father's will through intense prayer and surrender.

Finding Hope in the Darkness

Ignatius's Rule 7 provides additional guidance for navigating desolation: choose to view these difficult times as trials permitted by God. As Swafford explains, this perspective "casts even the experience of desolation in the light of faith. A major aspect of the suffering of desolation is our sense of its meaninglessness and hopelessness. Seeing desolation as a trial permitted by God in light of faith already gives it meaning and thereby begins to give us hope."²

When we're in the valley, everything feels hopeless and pointless. But faith reframes our experience—God hasn't abandoned us; He's allowing this season for our growth, refinement, or preparation for what lies ahead. This doesn't minimize the pain, but it prevents despair from having the final word.

Your Next Steps

Immediate Action Items:

1. Pause Before You Choose - Before any major decision, honestly assess whether you're in consolation or desolation.

   
   

2. Stick to Your Foundations - During dark times, hold firmly to the convictions, relationships, and commitments you made during clearer seasons.

   
   

3. Seek Godly Counsel - Find a trusted friend, mentor, or pastor to help you gain perspective when your own vision is clouded.

   
   

4. Fight the Real Battle - Instead of changing your circumstances, focus on spiritual disciplines: prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and community.

   
   

5. Reframe Your Suffering - Ask God how He might be using this difficult season for your good and His glory.

   
   

The decisions you make today will shape your tomorrow. Don't let desolation drive those choices. Instead, let ancient wisdom guide you toward patience, and let faith transform your waiting into worship. Your future self will thank you for the decisions you didn't make in the darkness.

References:

¹ ² Andrew Dean Swafford, Spiritual Survival in the Modern World: Insights from C. S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock, 2016).