Stories from Spiritual Direction
Hear stories of spiritual growth and encouragement from Christians who have started a relationship with a spiritual director.
What Is Spiritual Direction?
The Christian life often entails times of spiritual uncertainty—situations in which we are unsure of God’s will, confused about what God is doing in our circumstances, or generally dry in our relationship with God. Spiritual direction is a safe place to explore your questions and concerns about your life with God.
A Christian spiritual director is a trained listener who will accompany you as you share about your spiritual journey, helping you to notice God’s presence and activity along the way, as well as your personal reactions and responses. Hospitable, confidential, and grounded in biblical truth, spiritual direction is a ministry that helps you grow in prayer and live into your calling as a follower of Christ.
Whether you seek a spiritual director during a specific season of your life or engage with one as part of your regular spiritual practices, spiritual direction is beneficial in many ways. It can connect you in relationship with:
- Someone with a perspective outside of your normal circles.
- Someone who reminds you of the basics—God’s love, care and constancy through all of life’s circumstances.
- Someone to stay awake with you on the road when you are spiritually weary.
- Someone who keeps the faith when yours feels weak.
- Someone to lift you before God while you struggle with issues that aren’t solved quickly or easily.
- Someone to celebrate God’s work of transformation with you and for you.
- Someone who values and loves you in Christ and enjoys giving you that gift in Jesus name.
Setting Up a Direction Appointment
What to Expect
- You can meet with a spiritual director either in person, over the phone or via video conferencing.
- A session usually lasts for about an hour and takes place about once a month.
- Fees are set at the discretion of each spiritual director.
- Every meeting is confidential, and the spiritual director will guide the dialogue through attentive listening and thoughtful questions.
Find a Spiritual Director
Browse our searchable list of ESDA approved Spiritual Directors. Look for a director in your area, or meet with a director via phone or Skype.
Comparisons with Other Care Ministries
Spiritual direction is not meant to replace other forms of helping ministries such as biblical, pastoral, or psychological counseling.
Spiritual direction differs from counseling ministries primarily in its focus: the intention in spiritual direction is not to help solve a problem, but rather to look for God’s activity within any problems and within the rest of the person’s life experience. This perspective invites you into deeper relationship with God in the midst of whatever you are experiencing. Spiritual direction is designed to compliment rather than compete with these other vital ministries within the Body of Christ.
About ESDA
Grafted Life established ESDA to support Christian spiritual directors in their work, promote the ministry of spiritual direction in the church and connect believers with skilled spiritual directors.
