Shift Six: Get Helpful Support Don’t Go It Alone!
The spiritual life is not a solo journey we are meant to walk alone. Spiritual guides, companions, mentors —these are all key part...
When you encounter spiritual disturbances—moments where everything feels a little off, or you simply can’t connect—it’s easy to start drifting. You might go through the motions, showing up but not really being there, or worse, you might slowly fade away from the deeper connection you once had. But what if there’s another way? What if those moments of spiritual unrest could actually become the fuel to deepen your relationship with God? What if they could motivate you to form a generous friendship with God?
Now, I’m not talking about the type of “relationship with God” that many of us have heard about—where God is just a distant figure we check in with when we need something. That’s often a transactional mindset: “If I do x, then God will do y. Or at least, God won’t punish me with z.”
Let’s face it, that’s how a lot of us start out. Maybe you were taught that if you live a good life and follow the rules, God will be happy with you. But deep down, you know you’re craving more. You want something deeper, something real, and guess what? God wants that too.
Here’s the thing: God’s invitation is to go beyond a mere “transactional” relationship. He’s calling us into intimate friendship. This is the kind of friendship where you:
Imagine—what would it be like to be so close to God that your thoughts and God’s thoughts align almost effortlessly? What if you didn’t have to ask, “What would Jesus do?” in a given situation? What if, deep in your soul, you just knew what God would want you to do? What if your actions aligned with God’s heart so completely that obedience didn’t feel like a sacrifice, but a natural outpouring of joy—even when it cost you something? That’s the type of friendship God desires with you.
A Personal, Real, and Generous Friendship
This is what a deep, personal friendship with God looks like. It’s more than just following a set of rules or hoping for divine rewards. It’s about becoming so aligned with God’s heart that you live a life of purpose, meaning, and joyful collaboration with Him. And the beauty of this kind of friendship is that it’s available to anyone who’s willing to deepen their relationship with God.
I can tell you from personal experience—my relationship with God blossomed in profound ways when I began to engage with the scriptures in a new way, specifically through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. These exercises offer unique ways of prayer that invite you to not just read or study scripture but to enter into it. To imagine yourself in the Gospel stories, feeling what the characters feel, experiencing the life of Jesus in a personal and intimate way. Through this practice, I discovered a deeper connection to God, one that wasn’t based on superficial understanding but on real, transformative friendship.
The great thing about these spiritual exercises is that they aren’t just about learning more information—they’re about building a relationship. And just like with any real friendship, this takes time, intentionality, and the willingness to go deeper. As I’ve guided others in practicing these exercises, I’ve seen countless people experience the same transformation—moving from a distant, transactional relationship with God to a deeply personal and joyful one.
When you cultivate this kind of friendship, you start to live differently. You begin to appreciate who you are becoming, as your true identity in God starts to emerge. You’ll notice yourself living in alignment with God’s will, choosing actions that reflect His love and compassion for others. Your life will start to feel like it’s in sync with a bigger purpose—a divine partnership that leads to fulfillment, joy, and true meaning.
This is the beauty of walking closely with God. As you cultivate a generous friendship with Him, you’ll begin to see God’s hand at work everywhere—through the people you meet, the situations you encounter, and the work you’re called to do. And as you become more aligned with God’s heart, your unique role and purpose in His creative plan will unfold in ways that feel both natural and exciting.
This life with God? It’s really, really good. So good, in fact, that it’s worth savoring every moment. Take a minute right now to reflect on what this could look like in your own life.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into this kind of friendship with God, I’d love to help you. One of the best ways I know to begin to deepen your intimacy with God is through these spiritual exercises, a transformative and personally accompanied prayer experience that I’ve had the privilege of guiding many through.
Let’s chat! I’d be honored to hear about where you are in your spiritual journey and explore whether these exercises might be the next step for you.
Book a Free Consultation to explore deepening your friendship with God.
