Desolate: “Bereft of friends or hope: sad and forlorn.” Desolation: “The state of being forsaken; loneliness.” Console: “To allay sorrow or grief.” Consolation: “The state of being consoled.”
One way to describe consolation and desolation is to compare the characteristics of each. Paul, in his Epistle to the Galatians, spoke of the 9 fruits of the spirit (5:22-23). The following table compares characteristics of consolation with those of desolation.
| Consolation | Desolation |
| Love | Hate |
| Joy | Sorrow |
| Peace | Anxiety |
| Patience | Impatience |
| Kindness | Rudeness |
| Goodness | Evil |
| Faithfulness | Unfaithful |
| Gentleness | Harshness |
| Self-Control | Undisciplined |
The differences between consolation and desolation are dramatic, as is their impact on how we live our lives. Consolation, among other things, is empowering, while desolation is a state of powerlessness not unlike that experienced when someone is depressed.
Join us during the month of January as we explore the impact of consolation and desolation on our lives.
Exploring Consolation/Desolation
Touchstones Journal
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Ways to Engage Consolation/Desolation This Month
- Theme Services:
- January 24, 10:00 am, “The Heart of Abolition: How to Build a World of Accountability, Not Punishment”, Rev. Chris Rothbauer
- Second Hours will focus on Consolation and Desolation throughout the month.
- Covenant Groups will be discussing the theme at our meetings this month.
- Facebook and Instagram Posts: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily quotes on our January theme!