Reading notes on: Devotional Classics / Preparing for the Spiritual Life / Page 33

The fifth selection includes excerpts from The Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross (1542-1691).

Dark Night of the Soul

I first heard the phrase my freshman year at Evangel University. I’ve definitely experienced it. I wrote a letter to Nicole in February of 1998 explaining the dark place I found myself in. I wrote,

“… I’m feeling a little lost, like I’ve entered into another one of those “dark nights of the soul” like Abraham after he made the covenant with God, he fell into that deep sleep. . . or maybe like when he had to wave his arms and chase away the birds that were trying to eat the covenant sacrifice. There are some buzzards circling round here. It’s all I can do to yell “shoo.”

…I’m distressed, discouraged, disillusioned, and discontent. I’m so thirsty, my throat is parched for lack of the Spirit. I feel like yelling and wailing and shouting and falling on my face and crying out to God, “I want to come home.” But I can’t because my head’s in a vice and there’s an anvil on my chest. . . I can hardly breathe. Oh for Aslan to jump over the white witch’s wall and to breathe on this cold white marble statue His breath of life.

Don’t get me wrong it’s not like I’ve fallen into some great immoral sin of any sort. . . well doubt, and complacency, and apathy. . .uggg I guess I have.

sigh…

I’m not sure where I’m going and I can’t remember where I’ve been; though I know it was better than where I am. I faintly remembering how real God was to me, how real and awesome His call was. I know He spoke, I’m sure I heard his voice. But I no longer recognize it. Henry Blackaby says, “If you have trouble hearing God speak, you are in trouble at the very heart of your Christian experience.” That sounds serious to me.

…I just want my heart to stop hurting and my stomach to stop churning, and my head to stop spinning, and most of all my soul to stop aching. God is dealing with me in a powerful way and I’m not enjoying it in the slightest.

John of the Cross explains this dark dry place as a tool God uses to purify the soul.  At some point in our Christian walk, God removes the feelings involved in religious activities in order to bring his children into a deeper walk with him.  It’s painful, but these times in our life “teach virtue and prevent vice.”  John of the Cross proceeds to explain seven spiritual vices a “dark night of the soul” helps treat and prevent.  They include spiritual pride, greed, luxury, wrath, gluttony, envy and sloth.  I encourage you to read more about these spiritual vice, they might not be what you expect.  When God sees these spiritual imperfections in us he wants us to grow up… “No soul will ever grow deep in the spiritual life unless God works passively in that soul by means of the dark night.” (37)

Bible Selection: Psalm 42

Reflection Question: “Have you ever experienced what might be called a “dark night” in your spiritual journey, a time when the joys and delights seemed to vanish?

Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section.

Note: Sorry I don’t have more time to write on this.  Homework calls!