The dark night of the soul can be marked by profound emptiness, meaninglessness, or a temporary collapse of our perceived purpose. Some describe this as spiritual dryness, that no matter how we try to connect with God, He seems far away.
A dark night is not something to fear. Yes, it may feel empty and lonely, but it doesn’t have to lead to burnout, it can lead to a great spiritual breakthrough in our lives, if we understand what’s going on and learn how to follow Jesus in the darkness. We can growth through dark nights of our soul.
Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff, they comfort me.”
Many times in my life I have found myself crying out like David in desperation Psalm 22:1-2, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”
Remember our darkness isn’t dark to God. Psalm 139:11-12 says, “If I say, surely the darkness will overwhelm me, the light around me will be night, even the darkness doesn’t hide your You, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is light to You.”
Even when we feel like God is no where in sight, it doesn’t mean the light is gone. God is always faithful to keep His promise to be with us when we walk through the valley of deep darkness whether we perceive Him or not.
God sometimes commissions disheartening nights of the soul to descend on His children for redemptive purposes.
From Pity to Praise 