"At a certain point in the spiritual journey God will draw a person from the beginning stage to a more advanced stage. At this stage the person will begin to engage in religious exercises and grow deeper in the spiritual life.
Such souls will likely experience what is called " the dark night of the soul." The "dark night" is when those persons lose all the pleasure that they once experienced in their devotional life. This happens because God wants to purify them and move them on to greater heights."
-John of the Cross
In John's writings he talks about the "the dark night" being a time when we separate our spiritual lives from these things we do that are a result of our hunger for God, that is feeding our very own souls rather than the kingdom. This has deepened my understanding of being a living sacrifice. I understand the "the dark night" to be something I'm experiencing right now. For the past few years I have been digging into the spiritual riches of a baby christian-and I continue. But right now I'm restless as I have begun to truly grasp the truth that I have been made into the image of Christ, and it is no longer I who live- but he who lives in me. When we no longer trust the concept but see it becomes the way our limbs move and mouths speak-this is the "dark night"- giving up complete control and desire for self. It is only through him that are alive at all, all other parts of me are decaying- those sinful spiritual pleasures of self. Currently the "dark night" is taking its tole on pride and luxury in my life. Peace and humility have started to show their faces more and more- These are the hard ones right now.
God, give me strength because I have none for your kingdom. My strength is only strong enough indulge deep into the pleasures of this world. Give me your strength, so that I might not see my flesh so righteous, but only by your hand that I am able to stand.
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