Continuing our series on the seven symptoms of spiritual complacency, we have reached the fifth sign – and perhaps one of the most subtle. If you didn’t follow the previous ones, I recommend you watch them. Because complacency doesn’t come up at once. It settles in little by little. And that’s exactly where the danger lies.

The danger of the gradual

Complacency is imperceptible. It doesn’t knock on the door, warning that it has arrived. On the contrary, it infiltrates.

I like to use the example of the chair. When you sit down, initially keep your posture upright, back aligned, and head raised. However, after a few minutes, the body begins to give way. The shoulders fall, the hip slides, the head relaxes. The longer you stay there, the more you settle in.

Now, think of an airport terminal. There, for example, the tired person no longer cares about the posture, nor who is looking at them. Then, little by little, they shrink in the chair, because the body has simply reached its limit.

This also happens in the spiritual life. If you don’t watch, you give in. And, when you realise, you have already settled down.

The search for the least effort

Human nature always seeks the minimum necessary. What is the least effort to make money? To keep the house clean? To fulfil an obligation?

We transfer this logic to faith. And this is disastrous.

Because when you start to seek the least spiritual effort, you are at risk. Your conscience becomes loose. Surveillance decreases. And then the fifth symptom appears.

“God knows” – the classic justification

The fifth symptom of spiritual comfort is this: the person begins to justify their failures and omissions with phrases such as:

• “God knows.”
• “It’s not quite like that.”
• “God is my witness.”

Be careful when you summon God for your defence.

Instead of assuming the mistake, you transfer the responsibility. You distort the facts. You soften the sin.

Interestingly, these expressions first appeared in the Garden of Eden. The serpent distorted God’s words, saying: “Is that how God said it?” – suggesting something He hadn’t said that way.

Then, he said: “God knows…”

Do you notice the subtlety? Half-truths. Distortions. Justifications.

And that’s how Eve fell.

There is no defence for sin

Every time you find yourself saying – even if only inside you – “God knows”, to justify something wrong, turn on the alert.

If you made a mistake, you made a mistake.

The best thing is not to make mistakes. Obeying will always be better than sacrificing. However, if you have already made a mistake, do what is right immediately: repent, confess to those who are entitled and fix it.

The worst way after the mistake is to try to hide it. Lie to cover up. Look for culprits. Create alternative versions. Maybe you can hide it from people. But from God?

In the end, you will be before Him. And there will be no argument.

God did not accept Adam and Eve’s excuse. It will also not accept justifications based on spiritual comfort.

Quick to correct

When we are in faith, we act in two ways:

1. We are alert not to fall.
2. If we slip, we are quick to correct.

Jesus said to the adulterous woman: “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11). He didn’t change her past. But it determined the future.

If you fell for this symptom, there is still time. Don’t prolong the error. Don’t even blame God. Do not transfer to third parties. Look inside and say: “I made a mistake.”

To the sincere who confesses, God grants repentance and mercy. However, to the hypocrite who covers up, only judgment remains.

Therefore, examine yourself. If you realise that you have been using “God knows” as a shield, abandon this posture today. Correct what needs to be corrected.

If you have ever found yourself justifying actions, softening wrong decisions or looking for arguments to feel better, this video is an invitation to self-examination, without guilt, but with sincerity.

Watch until the end and allow God to show you what needs to be adjusted.

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https://www.universal.org/renato-cardoso/post/7-sintomas-de-comodismo-espiritual-parte-3/