Where is God in the Dark Night of the Soul

September 9, 2004

Sooner or later, just about every believer faces some crisis of life that becomes a personal dark night of the soul. What may begin as a normal reaction to loss or change may take on what seem to be spiritual dimensions. Days, weeks, even months may go by with no sense of blessing. When prayer and worship become blocked and meaningless, and when that emptiness continues and continues with seemingly no end in sight, we may be in one of life's supreme tests. We wonder what has happened. Where is God?

The dark night of the soul is not a fun place to be. We've all had our ups and downs. Mood swings are more or less normal. They come to us all. We feel lousy, but we try to soldier on. We wait for the clouds to pass, and they may tarry, but pass they do. The dark night of the soul is something else. The lights go out. The screens go black. The lines are dead. God is not answering his phone. And as hard as we look, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Where is God now? Where can we look for answers? How do we articulate the questions? Are there any points of reference? Where are the life-lines?

Let me begin by distilling all the years of my pastoral perspective into two short statements: God is good. God loves you. I really believe that. The dark night of the soul will pass! You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But believe me, the dark night of the soul comes to the believer with God's permissive knowledge, and though at the time unseen, with his support of his child in the furnace. You won't feel it. You certainly will be tempted not to believe it, but God knows, and God cares. With God's help you can hold steady in the darkness.

There are no quick fixes, or cheap solutions, but there are sources of strength to which we may turn. The fellowship of God's people can be a vital support. As Reuben Welch said by the title of his book a few years back, We Really Do Need each Other. When the usual avenues of prayer seem to have dried up, take the advice of someone who has 'been there, done that,' and don't add the burden of guilt to the load. There are things we can do to sustain and strengthen us as we wait for the dawn. A trusted counselor may be of great help. Perhaps the resource most likely to reach us will be the written Word.

An old country pastor was asked for a promise from the Bible to use in tough times. He said, "My favorite verse is, 'It came to pass!" And pass it will. But in addition to his sage advice, and keeping in mind that there are many promises the Holy Spirit can use for healing, I would recommend two passages from the scriptures in this attempt to answer the question, "Where is God in the dark night of the soul?"

The first scripture passage with great life-lines is the story of Job. Job's story is the premier handbook on the believer's dark night of the soul. Take hold of the Book of Job as best you can. It is not a simple book. Crises of faith are never simple. But there are some life lines in Job's story that can be grasped and trusted.

Careful! Not all of the apparently profound statements in the Book of Job are to be taken at face value. Job's story is given in the form of a drama, and the different characters voice opinions and would-be solutions. Look and listen to how Job faced his profound darkness.

Job resisted simply giving up. He refused to play the blame game. He said, "The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" (Job 1:21) Even when his wife told him to curse God and die, his reply was, "Don't be foolish!" And later in his agony, he said, "Even if God should kill me, yet I will believe He is good; I trust Him!" (paraphrase of 13:15)

Job cried out to God in prayer and told Him how he felt. "I don't know where You are! I'd like to present my case in person!" (paraphrase of 23:3,4) He prayed "Show me why I'm going through this!" (paraphrase of 10:2) But even when Job couldn't find God anywhere, he determined to hold his faith. "God knows where I am," was his testimony. "When this test is over I will come forth as gold." (23:10)

Some of the most sublime words in all scripture are Job's testimony in his darkest hour, "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand upon the earth in the latter days. And though worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom mine eyes shall behold, and not another!" (19:25-27 KJV)

At the end of the drama none of the characters, including Job, had it all figured out! The "why" of it all was a mystery to the humans involved, and remained a mystery. Job and his counselors thought they needed "answers." They tried to analyze and diagnose and prescribe. But at the end of the story when God breaks in and speaks Job is satisfied! God never explained, and Job didn't ask. What Job needed, and what we need in soul darkness, is for God to move in with that unmistakable, powerful Presence. Just to KNOW God knows, and cares, and that He is with us brings an end to both the question, and to the dark night itself.

Job's story makes it plain that the dark night of the soul is not an indication of God's displeasure. God permits these times, but God does not bring them about as punishment. There is absolutely no indication that Job's trial came because he had broken God's laws. Quite the contrary. Satan was permitted to use terrible circumstances to attack Job's relationship with God. He was unsuccessful.

Circumstances may trigger spiritual darkness in the believer's life. Severe illness, loss, a heart attack may bring us to feel God's absence. Circumstances come to all. They do not prove anything bad or good about our walk with God. If we have sinned God is faithful to show us exactly where, and is faithful and just to forgive us as we confess. The dark night of the soul is not so easily understood.

Job's story is a window on the place of friends and counselors in the times of darkness. Job's 'comforters' were a sorry lot. As long as they just kept him company and kept quiet they were probably some help. But then came the great words of 'profound wisdom', usually ending with a diagnosis of guilt! And sure enough, it will be very easy to find some modern relatives of Job's comforters who will very kindly give advice. Often that advice is some form of "you get what you deserve" or, in other words, "Your fault! Snap out of it!" But remember, the dark night of the soul is not an indication of God's displeasure, nor of judgment for sin.

One important but mysterious lesson from Job is this: we don't know how our holding steady may bring honor to God. In the scriptural account, Job never knew about how proud God was of him, how God valued Job's relationship with Himself. Job never knew that he was proving to heavenly beings the question that Satan asked: "Does your servant Job serve You because he loves you, or just for what he gets out of it?" (my paraphrase of Job 1:9)

In Ephesians Paul hints that just maybe this sort of cosmic testimony is still going on: "...the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 3:10 KJV) A careful reading of this passage would seem to indicate that whenever the God's people are faithful in trial, God's wisdom is being manifested in realms beyond our human understanding. When you and I as members of the Body of Christ hold steady in our dark night of the soul, and prove that God is good and faithful, then Job's faithful testimony is presented again, and again. In the dark night of the soul God is watching, with love. And Jesus is at the right hand of the throne of God where He is praying for you.

The second scripture passage is Hebrews 12:1 -3, and the Passion, Ascension, and Session of Jesus that it invokes. Remember who and what Jesus said He IS: the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, the Life, The Light of the World. Listen again to His invitations: "Come unto Me! Find rest! Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out!" But above and beyond even that, in your dark night of the soul, take hold of the Passion and Session of Jesus. The Passion is what Jesus did for us; he endured the cross, and despised the shame so that He can be the author and the finisher of our faith. Then Jesus Ascended to the Father, where He is in Session. The Session is what Jesus is doing now for us: making intercession, praying for each of us. (Romans 8:34) The Passion and Session of Jesus are a strong life-line.

Hebrews 12:1-4 has proved a powerful, practical help to me. In this passage we are reminded that 1) Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. What he has begun he is capable of completing. 2) Jesus knows the darkness. He endured the dark night of the soul himself. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed alone. On the cross he cried, "My God, why?" 3) Jesus triumphed, not only for Himself, but for you. He is in Session! He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God where he is making intercession for those of us who by faith are following after him.

"Consider Him who endured...lest you be discouraged!"(Hebrews 12:3 NKJV) The writer of Hebrews urges us in the dark night of our own soul agony to look to Jesus, and trust that He knows and cares what we are going through, and to hold steady regardless of how strong the winds are blowing and how pitch dark the night.

In looking to the scriptures, to the example of Job, and above all, to Jesus Himself for guidance in our darkness, there are some very practical measures we can determine to take. We can determine to hold steady no matter how we feel! The dark night of the soul is a poor place to think about quitting. No one gets off the train when it is halfway through the tunnel! Take courage and do what you are able to defy the darkness and affirm your praise of God even in that darkness!

In addition to the purely spiritual dimensions of finding an answer to the question, "Where is God in the dark night of the soul?" let an old pastor offer some personal, practical advice:

DO get physically tired. A wise medical doctor once told me "It is almost impossible to have tired thigh muscles and maintain a high level of anxiety." I know dark night of the soul is not exactly the same as mental and emotional depression, but emotional depression almost always is part of the package, and needs to be addressed. Mental exhaustion is real exhaustion, but getting the muscles tired to match the mental and emotional stress can bring about a more healthy sort of tiredness that enables sleep to "knit up the raveled sleeve of care," with apologies to William Shakespeare. DON'T over-extend or tire yourself schedule-wise. Leave extra time for a nap AFTER a long walk, jog, or reasonable exercise.

When the rugged prophet Elijah lay under a juniper tree physically exhausted and emotionally drained and spiritually feeling isolated he certainly experienced a dark night of the soul. God's prescription was sleep. He was already physically tired. When he woke, an angel had prepared a light lunch, and then, more sleep. Then Elijah was ready to wait for the still small voice.

DO find a compatible prayer group to join. Your pastor may be the one to guide you into a small group support setting. DON'T isolate or shut yourself away from friends and family. But by the same token, be very selective in sharing your heart. You don't need Job's comforters. A good Christian counselor can sometimes help point to that light at the end of the tunnel.

DO tell God how you feel. He can handle your feelings, but remember He is on your side whether you believe it at the time or not, so remember He will have the last Word! DON'T worry if and when your prayers are difficult or impossible. One thing is certain; we've said it before: the dark night of the soul will not last forever.

Let me close with a final thought that is so simple it just might prove a help. Remember that between Psalm 22 and Psalm 24 is Psalm 23. Now isn't that profound! But Psalm 22 is the dark night of the soul! It begins with the words of David that became the cry from the Cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" But Psalm 24, just one short chapter away, begins with a magnificent shout of assurance: "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof!" David is saying "All's right with the world! Living is great!" It seems a long way from Psalm 22 to Psalm 24, emotionally and in terms of assurance. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but isn't it interesting that in between Psalm 22 and Psalm 24 there it is- Psalm 23!!

The way from darkness of soul to full assurance is in the personal Presence of the Shepherd of the soul. Sixteen times in those six short verses that we all know by heart, David uses the personal pronoun to affirm that "the Lord is MY shepherd," and that "the Lord restores MY soul!" The way these scriptures are arranged are a reminder that the path from desolation to assurance is in the personal, assuring Presence of the Shepherd.

"The Lord is MY shepherd!" begins the journey from darkness to glory.