Mile Markers of Spiritual Formation

March 17, 2026

Glenn Balsis

Leader Development, TDC Trained Spiritual Director

Often I gauge my highway travel by mile markers to help me understand where I am as I drive. For my spiritual journey, I’ve realized that I need a spiritual director to help me assess those mile markers in my walk with God. Coaching, mentoring, and discipling all have valued places within my life with God, but spiritual direction has offered a unique encounter with God.

Twelve years ago, I started meeting regularly with someone who could help me slow down to listen, free myself from internal compulsions, and actually pay attention to God. I’m prone to overlook potential lessons, and I’ve greatly benefited from journeying with someone who pauses to help me uncover the work of God in my life.

What have I experienced about trained spiritual directors? They:

help me focus on God in the midst of an often-packed ministry schedule.
focus my attention on what God is doing with often confusing situations. As author David Benner writes, “We are so wrapped up in ourselves – our plans, our worries, our activities – that we fail to see Him.”
listen well, offering questions to clarify God’s work.
affirm or encourage spiritual practices that bring me closer to God.

They may ask questions that cause me to ponder, pray, and open my heart to God.

The trained director asks questions that help me give my full attention to God.

How do I sense God with me now?
What might be the invitation of God in this season?
Where are God and I wrestling with an issue?
What is nurturing my relationship with God and keeping me going?
What is intruding upon my relationship with God?
When have you shown yourself grace this month?

It is not a time of advice giving, or problem solving, but reflections that are closer to the heart. I’m prone to analyze and think my way through things, and a director helps me stay on pathways of prayer and give fuller attention to God.

I’ve found that meeting with a spiritual director enhances my deepening desire to be with God. My director has helped me see things from a grander perspective and has faithfully stood by as I’ve gone through challenging chapters of life.

Ten years ago, I went through the often-arduous task of becoming a trained spiritual director. This way of walking with people has helped me be attentive to God, and the person, in each conversation. Julian of Norwich, a devout believer from the 1370s said, “I look at God. I look at you, and I keep looking at God.” That captures the heart of spiritual direction.

Our hearts to minister to others often produce an avalanche of words as I “tell” people what I consider helpful solutions to their life issues. Spiritual direction is contrasted by focusing on God who walks, shepherds, transforms, and listens to His children. In my Navigator ministry, I find more questions being asked than answers being given. I am delighted to see a space where people discover they can trust God, lean into Him, and relax in His love and care. It’s one reason I think Jesus asked so many questions of people.

Author Adam McHugh wrote that there are “sacred conversations” that we have with people. That’s what I feel in each time of spiritual direction with myself and others.