Seeking the divine presence
God is the only security there is. The mystics help us see that, trust that, live that—especially when it seems most unlikely. Even in its great mystery.
We must seek God in our heart, feel His presence, and confide in Him. Whenever a soul finds itself to be so destitute of the divine presence that it can in no way feel it, it does not rest until it has merited the experience of it. It detracts not a little from a virtuous man if for even one short hour of it he does not experience within himself the presence of God.… But as long as he keeps it fixed in his mind, he travels with absolute confidence and he does all things well. Without God, a man will never have security in anything or at any time. Many times the Lord is wont to hide himself and if at such times we seek consolation in some other quarter and are not mindful of His Majesty, he withdraws still farther and takes away from a longer time the sweetness of His presence and gives us but very little consolation. He alone, then, must be sought and solicited, and he who looks at other things does not seek God. Further, one must not seek Himself, being totally submerged in His good will. In this way we shall succeed in having Him present to us and we shall constantly feel His presence. The interior life does not permit repose and slothfulness. All other arts at some time or other seek rest and cessation, but this art or heavenly knowledge demands all of man’s time.… It does not allow man to seek self but it requires that he should seek God alone who is present in every thing and time and place, in the least as well as the greatest.
—John Tauler, The Divine Institutions
My Lord, my God, help increase my faith and help my unbelief. Both when I see and feel and know your presence and when I don’t. Help me not to seek consolations but only you.
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