“Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God alone is changeless.” St. Theresa of Avila
St. Augustine said that we often do not realize that we have grown in a specific virtue until we experience that we respond differently to a familiar situation. “The soul neither knows not understands how this comes to pass.” St. John of the Cross (Dark Night of the Soul)
When the soul encounters a severe storm, it only struggles just to maintain its safety and security. It often isn’t able to see the course on which it is being directed. In the Dark Night, the soul’s sense of location is confused. The soul cannot see clearly its direction. The soul feels lost and alone in darkness.
This is because God is not communicating through the senses but instead, at this time, He communicates directly to the soul. The traces God leaves are like footsteps of one walking through a puddle. There is a knowledge of a passing as seen lightly in the flickering traces of the footstep but quickly that passes and what is left is smooth water with no trace of God’s passing.
In this night, the soul trembles that it’s God has withdraw His graces. It thinks it has offended His Majesty and withdraws. But, the soul should not tremble or worry, the Lord will never leave nor forsake any of His children. In this time, God sheds His Divine Light upon the path the soul must walk, always guiding it safely forward.
When the darkness and storm abates, the soul finds rests but doesn’t see everything the Holy Spirit has conveyed in its deepest recesses. Only at some future time will the soul see the graces planted within.
It was through the Dark Night that my soul was strengthened, the edge and temper of my faith sharpened. The Lord has given me to see that when I felt most alone, in the deepest darkness, He was shining light on my path to keep me from the wolves surrounding me. He showed me many errors and weaknesses of my heart and gave me His Divine Wisdom that I may be strengthened. When the storm returned, for I learned it hadn’t passed, I had just moved into the eye of the storm, the man who stood before the winds was much changed.
I couldn’t withstand the breezes that had assailed me in the front side it the storm but after the Dark Night, when the storm’s fury returned, I stood strong, unshaken before gale force winds.
See my book, “I knew His Voice” for the story through the Dark Night. And, maybe coming soon, the story of the years since.
”Brothers and sisters:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28