Spiritual direction is often a practice that is misunderstood. Many think it’s just therapy or a time to vent about life and be told what to do. In reality, spiritual direction is focused on the relationship between the directee and God, guiding the directee through the Holy Spirit, and helping the directee see where God is moving and how they should respond. Succinctly, God gives a spiritual director the grace to assist the directee in recognizing and cooperating with God’s will in their life. The Holy Spirit is the real director, facilitated by the spiritual director. 

Not everyone needs a spiritual director, but it can be helpful for many. If you are feeling stuck or struggling, are seeking guidance in the spiritual life, or are discerning priesthood or religious life, spiritual direction would likely be beneficial for you. The next step is to reach out to a priest or someone you trust who is trained to be a spiritual director and ask for one meeting of “spiritual counseling.” If you both determine that consistent meetings would be helpful, then you can continue meeting regularly.

The majority of spiritual directors are priests, but religious brothers and sisters or trained laypeople are also options. Regardless of their vocation, the role of a director and the goal remain the same: to guide the directee into a deeper relationship with the Lord and to foster a greater awareness of how He is at work in their life. It is important to keep in mind that each director is different and may not be the right fit for you, even if they are for others. A good spiritual director is someone you can trust enough to open your heart to so that you can see the Lord at work.

Time spent in spiritual direction is rooted in trust. I bring the good things in my spiritual life to my director, but I also bring my failings — times I didn’t respond well to the Lord and even times where I didn’t pray as I ought. I wholeheartedly trust that my director will see my love for the Lord, my desire to grow in my faith, and also recognize that I am human and will fail, all while I know he will lead me and help me get back on track.

I have found spiritual direction to be abundantly fruitful, and my spiritual life has grown and deepened more than I knew was possible. That’s not the work of my director himself, but the work of the Holy Spirit. My director has simply assisted me in understanding how the Lord is moving and the ways in which I need to respond. By having my director prayerfully listen to what is going on in my life as well as what has come up in prayer, he is able to recognize ways the Lord is working and can guide me in my way forward. He is also able to ask questions to help me see how the Spirit moves such as “Where do you see God in this?” or “What was coming up for you as you took that to prayer?”

I have a depth to my spiritual life I did not have before and have learned so much more about who God is, more about who I am as a child of God, and have become much more aware of how God is present and working in my life. I feel beyond blessed to have my director.

As we continue the lifelong journey of faith, take the time to pray about whether spiritual direction may benefit you. Consider how the Lord often provides companions to help us recognize His voice. Perhaps the next step He is inviting you to take is to ask Him whether spiritual direction has a place in your own journey.