The Dark Night of the Soul

THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

 

At some point in our journey with God, He will draw us into a season of darkness that is meant to deepen our WALK, with Him…shape our CHARACTER by Him… revive our PASSION for Him  It’s during those seasons that God will do…

CLEANSING, —PURIFYING — REFINING work in our hearts, ….only so that we can go farther in our journey.

 

• When we first get saved, there is a fervor and passion that drives us, and we almost become addicted or consoled by our own passion, so God will eventually lead us away from that, and begin to purify our motives and ambitions.
• Sometimes these dark nights can come when you are going through a dark season of life, when you are struggling, or lost a loved one, or facing a critical family issue, transition of life…

 

It’s easy to think that these dark nights have no purpose, but …

God is GROWING us,

God is PRODUCING in us and most importantly

God is COUNTERING and REPLACING some hidden sins

that have creeped into our soul unnoticed.

 

#1. Spiritual Pride. 

Spiritual pride is when our works and our motives go unchecked leading to improper ambitions towards ministry and titles. We soften our sins and become afraid of confession for the sake of ruining the image we’ve created of our own selfish glory. We become presumptuous of God focusing on our perfection instead of admitting our imperfections.   It’s in the dark night that we will choose to stay low to the ground… we will beg for God to change us, humble us, to purify us of every imperfection.  You will seek validation from only God, you will overcome the fear of man, you will crucify your need to seek credit, and instead of using harsh and self affirming words defending yourself to answer your critics, you will learn how to live the life that God is transforming inside of you and let God silence your critics.  God will increase your wisdom, protect your integrity, attract His favors and reflect His glory!

 

Spiritual Pride must be replaced with an attitude of Humility and Brokenness.

 

#2. Spiritual Gluttony.

We become discontented with the blessings of God.  We can never get enough. We are never satisfied.  We are driven and focused on the emotional affect of our devotion rather than the substance of it.   Our faith is not built on obedience but rather on indulgence. We place too much value on the  “holy objects we cling to and the holy places we run to” -it plays out much like ancient idolatry…our bibles, our churches, crusades, our conferences, famous worship artists and popular preachers are pursued.  All of it can become spiritual indulgence to satisfy a gluttonous appetite of spiritual voices and music. In the dark night, the pleasure of all these objects, these voices, these places, your devotion, and your religious work will be removed, and the complicated and exhaustive pursuit of God will grow you weary in well doing,  it will bring you to a pace that you just cannot keep any longer, and you grow exasperated in your times with God.

 

Spiritual Gluttony must be replaced with the Simplicity  and Substance of God’s Presence.

#3.  Spiritual Entitlement.

This is where we feel entitled to the blessings and the attention of God upon on our lives. We fuss and fret like the infant who has been removed from the feeding of her mother. This is the attitude that says I’m entitled to the breakthrough.  I’ve prayed, I’ve fasted, I’ve confessed, there’s no sin in my life, my relationships are right…I deserve this. Wie cry out “Why is God not answering me”, “Why is He ignoring my prayers? This is just not right, IT’S NOT FAIR.  In the dark night of the soul, we develop the patience to wait for whatever God would give us and when God chooses to give it to us. It’s in this dark night that our demands are replaced with God’s Timing.  We learn to wait, we learn to be patient, we learn to trust, we learn to be thankful, we become more empathetic, and selfless. The process becomes more important than the promise.  God can give you the promised land immediately but He wants to take you through the wilderness first.

 

Spiritual Entitlement is replaced with a Patient and Meek Spirit.

 

HOW DO YOU MOVE PAST THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL?

No matter how much of a Spiritual Giant you may be, no one can avoid the dark nights, that’s why David’s Psalms are in the Bible…I don’t believe there is anyone who penned so beautifully the type of prayers and songs that are needed for anyone move through and past these difficult dark seasons.

 

As I read through Psalm 42, I see some ways to help us move past the dark night.   

In verse 1, the Psalmist states, “as the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, o God”.   We must Move our thirst from the water brooks to the waterfalls of God’s Love and Joy. (Ps. 42:1). The Song of Solomon tells us that “Many waters cannot quench His love”.    Revelation warns us to not lose our “first love”.  Fall in love with Jesus again.

 

In verses 4 and 5, he states “When I remember these things…how I used to go with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the joy and praise…”(Ps. 42:4-5). Paul said I forget what’s behind and press ahead, where the promises of God are fully realized (Phil. 3) Isaiah 43:18-19: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  In the dark night, you must move your thoughts from the glory of the past to the promise of the future and be driven by God’s Promises!

 

And lastly in verse 6,  David mentions how he seeks God’s presence in the “land of the Jordan”, symbolizing critical transitions needing divine breakthrough, “the heights of Hermon”, symbolizing the intimidating obstacles that are conquered with divine strength and lastly the Hills of Mizar, which are only mentioned here in this Psalm.  These hills are only significant to David alone, for is it possible that it was on these hills that David quieted his soul with God where he found deep reflection and peace in God’s presence.

 

Remembering the places where we first encountered His presence and goodness and moving your attention from the voice of man to the countenance of God will give you the resilience to get through the dark night.