When Your Desires and God’s Plans Are Different

Summary

Father Mike Schmitz discusses the nature of desires and their role in discerning one's vocation. He emphasizes that even good desires are not predictors of the future or necessarily the voice of God. Using the example of a young woman's desire for a relationship that ended, he explains that desires should be examined to understand what they reveal about our hearts rather than being seen as a direct path to God's will. He advises not to place too much trust in others' opinions about one's vocation and to instead attend to one's desires to discern God's true calling.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Desires, whether good or bad, are not a reliable prediction of the future.
• 🔍 It's a mistake to consider desires as the voice of God or a definitive guide for life decisions.
• 🗣️ People often place too much trust in others' opinions about their vocation, especially if it aligns with their own desires.
• 👥 The advice of others, even if well-intentioned, is limited by their knowledge and role in one's life.
• 🚫 It's tempting to let others make decisions for us, but it's important to take responsibility for our own discernment.
• 🔄 Desires are not inherently bad; they should be examined to understand what they reveal about our hearts.
• 🎯 The key to discerning desires is to ask what they reveal about our true longings and motivations.
• 💔 It's natural to question why a desire would grow if it's not meant to be fulfilled, but desires are not always indicators of God's will.
• 🌱 Desires can grow because we feed them through constant thought and prayer, not necessarily because they are divinely ordained.
• 🔑 The process of discernment involves attending to desires, understanding their origins, and using them to reveal God's will over time.
• 🙏 Ultimately, we should not trust our desires blindly but use them as a tool for spiritual growth and understanding our true calling.

Q & A

What is the main point Father Mike Schmitz is trying to make about desires?

Father Mike emphasizes that desires, whether good or bad, are not predictors of the future nor necessarily the voice of God. They reflect what is happening within us but don't determine what will happen.

Why does Father Mike caution against trusting desires too much?

He explains that desires, while potentially good, can be misleading if they are taken as definitive signs of what God wants. Instead, they should be attended to and examined, not automatically trusted.

How does Father Mike explain the relationship between desires and discernment?

He suggests that desires can be helpful in discernment by revealing something about our hearts, but they don't necessarily indicate God's will. We should explore what desires reveal about us, rather than assume they predict the future.

What does Father Mike say about the role of others in telling us what our vocation is?

Father Mike advises caution when others claim to know our vocation, especially if they have little authority or insight. He warns that it's tempting to let others make decisions for us, but ultimately, the responsibility of discernment lies with the individual.

What example does Father Mike use to illustrate the complexity of desires?

He shares a story about a young woman who desired to be married to a holy man. Despite this desire and others’ affirmations of her call to marriage, the relationship ended, raising questions about the reliability of desires as a guide.

What lesson does Father Mike draw from the story of Whitney Houston?

Father Mike uses Whitney Houston's story to illustrate the difference between wanting to sing because you love it and wanting to be a famous singer for recognition. This highlights the need to understand what lies beneath our desires.

How does Father Mike suggest we handle desires in prayer and discernment?

He suggests that we bring our desires to God in prayer, acknowledging them but not assuming they are God's will. Instead, we should allow God to guide us through the process of discernment, using our desires as part of that exploration.

Why does Father Mike say desires can grow even if they are not from God?

Desires can grow because we keep bringing them up, feeding them with our thoughts and attention, rather than because they are God’s will. The persistence of a desire doesn’t necessarily mean it is a divine sign.

What does Father Mike mean by 'attending to' desires?

Attending to desires means examining them carefully to understand what they reveal about our hearts, rather than ignoring or suppressing them. This helps us discern what deeper longing or need the desire is pointing to.

How does Father Mike encourage viewers to approach their desires?

He encourages viewers to reflect on their desires with openness and discernment, allowing God to reveal what He wants through them, but without assuming that every desire is a direct instruction from God.