The “dark night of the soul” is a concept that comes from 16th century Spanish mystic and poet St. John of the Cross. It refers to a painful and profound spiritual crisis that can occur when someone seeks to grow in intimate union with God.
The dark night of the soul is thought to happen in two stages. The first is called the “dark night of the senses.” This involves a painful purging of the appetite for worldly pleasures, in order to deepen devotion to God. The second stage is the “dark night of the spirit,” which is characterized by a painful awareness of one’s own flaws and unworthiness before God. This leads to profound inner transformation and spiritual maturity.
The term “dark night of the soul” comes from St. John’s poem of the same name. In the poem, he uses the metaphor of a dark night to describe the painful process of spiritual growth:
“One dark night, fired with love’s urgent longings – ah, the sheer grace! – I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled. In darkness, and secure, by the secret ladder, disguised, – ah, the sheer grace! – in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled. On that glad night, in secret, for no one saw me, nor did I look at anything, with no other light or guide than the one that burned in my heart.” (St. John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul, Stanza 1)
The dark night is “dark” because it is so painful and bewildering that it obscures our perception of God’s presence. However, St. John teaches that this darkness is actually a sign of progress. It means that God is leading the soul through a transition to greater spiritual strength and intimacy with him.
Here are some key things the Bible teaches about the dark night of the soul:
1. Suffering and spiritual dryness are normal parts of spiritual growth.
Even devout believers go through periods of spiritual crisis and doubt. Consider Job, who went through unimaginable suffering though he was “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1). Or read Psalms 22 and 88, where David cries out in anguish over God’s apparent absence and abandonment. Times of spiritual darkness are common for followers of Christ.
2. God sometimes uses suffering to purify and refine us.
The Bible often compares suffering to a refiner’s fire that burns away impurities from metal. “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). Difficult seasons expose our flaws and humble us, which allows the Holy Spirit to develop Christlike character in us.
3. God may seem distant during periods of spiritual darkness, but he has not abandoned us.
God may feel far away during a dark night of the soul, but he does not actually leave or forsake his own. Deuteronomy 31:6 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” God is always with us, even when we can’t perceive him.
4. Struggling spiritually does not mean something is wrong with our faith.
Dark nights of the soul are normal for growing Christians. Consider the great heroes of faith who endured deep suffering: Joseph, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Paul, and of course Jesus himself. Difficult seasons are not a sign of weak faith but rather an opportunity to cling to God and mature in perseverance.
5. There will eventually be an end to the dark night of the soul.
No painful experience lasts forever, including dark nights of the soul. Dawn always comes after the darkest hour of the night. There is hope that the light and comfort of God’s presence will emerge after a long night of patient waiting and seeking him.
Psalm 30:5 says “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Take comfort in God’s promise that relief and joy will come after sorrow.
6. Dark nights of the soul can lead to deeper intimacy with God.
Paradoxically, dark nights of the soul offer an opportunity to know God in new depths that aren’t possible in easier seasons. Like the woman healed of bleeding after 12 years of suffering, we can emerge from dark valleys with a new understanding of Jesus as compassionate healer and loving friend (Luke 8:43-48).
7. The appropriate response is to draw near to God, pray, and patiently hope in his deliverance.
There aren’t quick fixes to shorten the dark night of the soul. The solution is to lean into God’s persevering love. Lament to him in prayer and honestly share your struggles. Study scripture to be reassured of his promises. Then wait faithfully for the light of his presence, which in time will surely come.
Here are some Bible passages that are helpful for getting through a dark night of the soul:
Psalm 13:1-2 – “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?”
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.”
Psalm 69:1-3 – “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.”
Isaiah 50:10 – “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”
Lamentations 3:1-9 – “I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long. He has made my flesh and my skin waste away; he has broken my bones; he has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation.”
Matthew 27:46 – “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 – “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.”
Hebrews 12:7-11 – “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
Ultimately, dark nights of the soul remind us that this world is not our home. Our hope is in the world to come, where there will be no more tears, pain, or suffering (Revelation 21:4). Until then, we follow Christ through valleys of shadows, trusting the God who comforts us in all our afflictions (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). The joy comes not in avoiding trials but in leaning into God through the trials.
In summary, a “dark night of the soul” refers to a painful spiritual crisis in which God seems distant and a believer faces profound disillusionment with one’s faith. While bewildering and distressing, the Bible teaches that such dark nights can lead to greater spiritual maturity if we respond by drawing near to God in lament, humility, and patience hope. Over time, the dark night leads to deeper intimacy with Christ, as we learn to rely completely on God’s grace rather than on our fickle emotions.
Here are some key teachings about the dark night of the soul:
– It’s normal for growing Christians to experience spiritual dryness and crisis at times.
– God uses suffering to refine and purify us. The “furnace of affliction” exposes our flaws and need for God’s mercy.
– God is still with us though he may seem distant. He does not abandon his own even in the darkest valley.
– Dark nights are opportunities to know Christ better as comforter and healer. We emerge with greater appreciation for his love.
– The solution is not to flee suffering but draw near to God. Pray, study Scripture, and wait patiently for daylight.
– Joy eventually comes after a long dark night. God’s presence and purposes make sense in time.
– God disciplines those he loves. Trials develop maturity, like an athlete is strengthened through intense training.
– Our hope is in eternity where no darkness or pain will exist. For now, we follow Christ faithfully through the valley.
The dark night of the soul is painful and confusing, but Bible saints endured them too. Trust God’s mysterious plan to deepen intimacy with him through the darkness. Pray for his comfort and wait faithfully for the relief and joy that will certainly come with the dawning light of a new day.