“True and substantial devotion consists in serving God without experiencing any sensible consolation. This means serving and loving God for His own sake.” St. Padre Pio

How often we desire consolation from the Lord, especially when we are in desolation! At that moment God desires us to continue to be faithful to him, to seek his will and to choose to do it in love. Consolation will come not when we plea for it, but when God desires to give it to us. For trusting in him in times of desolation comes from his grace, which means that in those times he is present to us, walking with us, even though we do not feel him. Jesus experienced desolation on the cross, the desolation of the weight of our sins, but he was not alone. That is why he could say, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."