Dark Nights of the Soul

JMJC

Directly inspired by Dr. Brant Pitre‘s Introduction to the Spiritual Life

It is common for anyone just coming to Christ, diving deeply into discipleship, or beginning a significant spiritual practice like chastity to receive extraordinary spiritual graces. However, it is also common for such a person to experience the seeming withdrawal of these graces – spiritual practices cease to enthrall, the feeling of rapture in prayer disappears, motivation diminishes…

This is called by many a ‘dark night of the soul’, and it can produce fear that we have done something wrong to deserve this – that God is done with us – is no longer working for us – or even that we were mistaken in our faith.

Dr. Pitre suggests remembering the following when confronted by such spiritual dryness:

• Do not be surprised – this is a common experience among believers.
• Recognize that dark nights of the soul are gifts from God, opportunities for us to grow in virtue if we continue to do good without the feel-good spiritual ‘perks’.
• Continue to pray – God is still listening. He is still there and working in your life.
• Be still and know that God in control – you do not need to make drastic changes to regain spiritual connection – continue your practices of praying, worshiping, serving, and connecting with fellow believers.
• This dark night is not forever – after all, Heaven is eternity in the light of God – and you likely won’t need to wait that long.

Dr. Pitre also suggests meditating on the following segments of scripture when confronting a dark night of a the soul.

I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, that he may hear me.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.

I think of God, and I moan;
I meditate, and my spirit faints. …
I commune with my heart in the night;
I meditate and search my spirit:

“Will the Lord spurn for ever,
and never again be favorable? …
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” …

I will meditate on all your work,
and muse on your mighty deeds.

– Psalm 77:1-3, 6-9, 12

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my supplications! …

For the enemy has pursued me;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within my is desolate. …

I meditate on all that you have done. …
I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Make haste to answer me, O Lord! …
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I put my trust.

– Psalm 143: 1, 3-8