Rev. Kit Billings
“The Lord is present with every person, urging and pressing to be received; and the moment the person makes room, which is done by turning away from evil, the Lord enters.” –Divine Providence §145 (1)
There’s an old story about a carpenter who, after decades of faithful work, laid out his most trusted tools to be passed on to his apprentice. He said, “These are what I reached for on the hardest days—when the wood was warped, when the nails were bent, when the design didn’t come together. These were what got me through.”
All of us are spiritual carpenters, because when we partner with the Lord in building our angelic-heavenly character, we are building the spiritual home we will one day live in forever in His Kingdom. And so, I want to ask you today:
“What are your spiritual tools that get you through your tough days of life?”
When you face heartbreak, doubt, confusion, loneliness, temptation, or sorrow—what do you reach for to reconnect with God?
Let’s begin with Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way… [and God says to us] Be still and know that I am God.” (2) Here the psalmist is reminding us that when everything around us seems to be shaking or collapsing, God remains our steady refuge, our best friend and the One who literally never fails us. But we’re not just told that God is with us. We’re invited into an ancient spiritual practice: Be still.
Stillness—quieting our minds, stepping back from the whirlwind—taking conscious, adult-level responsibility with our own well-being, is a spiritual discipline. It’s a tool that Jesus Himself used regularly. In Mark 1:35, we read: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.”
This wasn’t a one-time event. It was a pattern for the Lord. Before big decisions, after long days, during times of sorrow—Jesus sought solitude and prayer. That may seem simple—but in a world addicted to noise, distraction, and problem-solving, choosing silence and connection with God is an act of spiritual courage—in fact, it’s really more like an act of rebellion against the world of materialism and self-centeredness, which we live in. But, there is another even more beautiful and substantial world, dwelling inside of us, and we are given the choice to make it our dearest home while we journey through our earthly life.
The Lord’s Spiritual Toolkit
Let’s take a brief look at three key disciplines Jesus modeled:
- Prayer in Solitude – Not just public prayer, but private, heartfelt conversations with the “Father”—with the infinite Divine, which was His soul.
- Scripture Knowledge and Use – Jesus often quoted the Word, even in the wilderness when He was tempted.
- Compassionate Service – Jesus was energized by giving—healing, feeding, comforting—which became a source of spiritual strength.
Now, let’s turn to Swedenborgian teachings and see what we find for our reflection time today. Swedenborg taught emphasized the spiritual tools we’re given for navigating the trials and temptations of life.
Swedenborg’s Three Essential Spiritual Disciplines
- Self-Examination and Repentance
“No one can be regenerated unless they examine themselves, see their sins, acknowledge them, pray to the Lord for help, and begin a new life.” –True Christianity §530 (3)
This is not about wallowing in guilt. It’s about honest spiritual reflection—what’s sometimes called “the daily practice of coming back to God.” Especially in suffering, we’re invited to pause and ask: What is this pain showing me? What needs light, healing, or surrender?
- Reading the Word with a Desire for Light
“When people read the Word from a desire for truth, they are enlightened.” (Secrets of Heaven §1776) (4)
In our hardest moments, Scripture becomes more than ancient text—it becomes spiritual nourishment. Even a single verse—like “Be still and know that I am God”—can become a lamp in the night. For me, it’s about becoming vulnerable and open and real with God within the things of my life that are heartfelt, real and challenging. It’s also about learning and engaging in the strongest foundation for anyone: the literal and inner meaning of the Ten Commandments given to Moses and Israel on Mt. Sinai.
- Turning Toward Usefulness
“The essence of love is loving others outside oneself, wishing to be one with them, and devoting oneself to their happiness.” –Divine Love and Wisdom §47 (5)
Swedenborgian teachings explain that usefulness is a Divine pathway. When we feel lost or depressed, choosing some small act of kindness—writing a card, washing dishes for someone, visiting a lonely neighbor—can shift our inner world. This is not about ignoring pain. It’s about transforming pain through usefulness. Love in action becomes a bridge for Divine inflow.
A Living Example
I once knew a woman who went through a long period of grief after losing her child, her sweet little girl who was just 2 years old. She was a woman of sincere faith, but in her engulfing sorrow, she felt far from God—disconnected, spiritually numb. But one day, an old friend visited her. He didn’t bring theology—he brought a loaf of bread, sat beside her, and said nothing for an hour.
And lo and behold, that moment sparked something. The next morning, she read Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” She began a new morning ritual—lighting a candle, reading a verse, sitting in silence, and asking God: “Just help me through this hour. Please, O Lord, remain close to my heart.”
Later, she began volunteering at a local shelter for the homeless, helping children with homework. One quiet spiritual tool, and then another. One moment of light, then another—and it was the combination of praying daily, and then reading a verse of the Lord’s Holy Word, reflecting upon it, followed by being of use to her neighbor.
Your Own Tools of the Spirit
So I ask you again: What are your tools?
Is it journaling your prayers?
Walking in nature while reflecting on the Lord’s love and wisdom?
Singing a hymn or reading a psalm?
Is it kneeling and praying aloud as Jesus did?
Is it confessing a weakness, asking for strength and reforming your way of life to be more in alignment with God’s commandments, or perhaps doing something kind even when you feel empty?
There’s no one right answer. But there are dependable patterns—tools God has given us. They are means by which the Lord flows into us.
Swedenborgian theology reminds us that:
“The Lord is present with every person, urging and pressing to be received; and the moment the person makes room, which is done by turning away from evil, the Lord enters.” (Divine Providence 145)
A Church of Spiritual Craftsmen
Imagine our church as being like a spiritual workshop. Each of us has a unique set of tools—and we grow by learning from one another.
What helps you may inspire someone else.
So let me suggest a practice this week: think about the one or two spiritual disciplines that anchor you in hard times. Write them down. Try to use them with intention. Then, if you feel led, share them with someone here—in coffee hour, in a small group, or over the phone, or simply during your own prayer time.
Conclusion
God never promised a life without struggle.
But He did promise to walk with us.
And through Scripture, through silence, through prayer and usefulness and repentance and love—He placed tools in our hands.
May we each consciously reach for them.
May we support one another in using them. And may we find, again and again, that the Lord truly is “a very present help in trouble.”
(1) Swedenborg, Emanuel. Divine Providence. Translated by George F. Dole. West Chester, PA: Swedenborg Foundation, 2010.
(2) Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
(3) Swedenborg, Emanuel. True Christianity. Vol. 1. Translated by Jonathan S. Rose. West Chester, PA: Swedenborg Foundation, 2010.
(4) Swedenborg, Emanuel. Secrets of Heaven, Vol III. West Chester: Swedenborg Foundation, 2022.
(5) Swedenborg, Emanuel. Divine Love and Wisdom. Translated by George F. Dole. West Chester: Swedenborg Foundation, 2010.
Rev. Kit Billings, his wife Penny, and their daughter Julia moved to LaPorte, Indiana in 2012, where he is Pastor of the LaPorte New Church, a historic Swedenborgian sacred space.Kit enjoys ministering with people of all ages, and supporting others in their journey of growth with the Lord.