St. John of the Cross' writing is deep and insightful, but often as dark as the night he describes. Fortunately, author and speaker Cec Murphey has shed light on the dark night in his easy-to-read book When God Turned Off the Lights.
He writes, "I cried out constantly for a sense of divine presence, but it wasn't there for me. I cried, God, I've been faithful to You, so where are You?" And he points out the most distressing part of the darkness: "God's absence is felt as a real absence only when we believe in the possibility of divine intervention. Atheists don't have to struggle with the "dark night of the soul"!
While neither St. John of the Cross nor Cec offer pat answers, both do assure believers that they thave been there just like you. Cec notes, "I've walked through the dark valley of emptiness three times in my life&3151;and each time it was worse."
The psalmist observes, "Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you (Psalm 139:12).
Cec writes, "perhaps Jesus had come to me in the darkness, walked beside me and whispered to me, but I had been so focuses on my inner turmoil that I couldn't hear. What if the darkness, the lonliness, the isolation, the fighting of inner demons is God's guiding hand?"
He suggests we ask these questions when the lights go out:
1. Ask God this simple question: "Have I knocked out the lights by my failures? Have I sinned against you? After you ask the question, listen. Give God the opportunity to speak to you.
2. Don't see this as divine punishment (unless God shows you it is), but consider the silence an act of divine love to move you forward. This is God's method to teach you and stretch you.
3. Avoid asking why. You don't need reasons and explanations--and you probably won't get them anyway. Instead, remind yourself that this temporary darkness is to prepare you for greater light.
4. Say as little as possible to your friends. Most friends will want to "fix" you or heal you and they can't. They may offer advice (often not helpful) or make you feel worse ("Are you sure everything is right between you and God?").
5. Stay with the "means of grace." That is, don't neglect worship with other believers even if you feel empty. Read your Bible even if you can't find anything meaningful.
I chose to read Lamentations and Psalms (several times, especially Lamentations) because they expressed some of the pain and despair I felt.
6. If you don't have a daily prayer time, start one. Perhaps something as short as three minutes--and do it daily. Talk honestly to God. It's all right to get angry. (Read the Psalms if you're hesitant.)
7. Remind yourself, "I am in God's hands. This is where I belong and I'll stay in the blackout until I'm ready to move forward."
8. Pray these words daily: "But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12 TNIV). Some versions say "secret sins." These are failures and sins of which you may not yet be aware. One of the purposes of your darkness may be to bring those hidden problems to light.
9. Ask God, "What do you want me to learn from this experience?" You may not get an answer, but it's still a good question. Continue to ask--even after the lights go back on again. If you're open, you will learn more about yourself and also about God.
10. As you receive "light" about yourself while walking in darkness, remind yourself, God has always known and still loves me.
When God Turned Off the Lights is a great book that I'd highly recommend! Click
here to purchase.
(Disclaimer: I received a comp copy of this book.)
Personal note
I spent three weeks teaching writing in India with Cec. If anything could test your
Christlikeness, it would be 22 days in a third-world country, almost being robbed by con men, and having
me as a roommate. Cec is as loving, gracious, and Christlike
enduring my snoring as he is in front of a crowd.
"Thanks for being so real, Cec! And not smothering me with a pillow."
Related resources
• Some thoughts on life's tough questions
• Squeezing Good Out of Bad
• When life gives you lemons use as an all-natural, organic astringent
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