Four Reasons I Think You Shouldn’t Pray For a Sign

Called and Caffeinated

In my years in discernment ministry, I’ve noticed that most people look for God’s voice in two specific ways: A voice in one’s head, or a sign. As my spiritual life has matured, I’ve mostly stopped asking God for a sign in discernment. Why? I have four reasons:

• Signs can be ambivelent: How do you know what the sign means?
• God may not want to tell you because he may want you to choose
• Signs are limiting: God often wants to work far more creatively!
• Asking for a sign can make you hyper-focused on the sign when discernment is rather a relationship

So how should we pray in discernment? There are many ways, and I’ll finish the episode with four very practical ways to help you get unstuck and pray well. Two are from St. Ignatius “The Man” of Loyola. Enjoy!

Resources

• Get the Prayer of Surrender mentioned in this episode when you subscribe to https://www.staceysumereau.com . You’ll instantly get a packet called “How to Make the Right Choice” and inside that is the Prayer.
• Leah Darrow’s episode on Called and Caffeinated
• Fr. Gregory Pine O.P.’s episode on Called and Caffeinated

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