The Dark Night of the Soul?

There does not seem to be an actual biblical reference to it in the sense that it is referred to by the author of the original poem, or the idea that this is a sort of right of passing for believers to go through in order to draw closer to God. So, just wondering what some of you might have to say about it or what you might think about it. If you want to learn more about it, there are plenty of references online.

Yes, there have been topics and posts and poems and vids posted on this here before...

I really like this song by John Michael Talbot from Saint John of the Cross.

Perhaps this Scripture is relevant:


Luke 22:31-32 ~ Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat...

Some Protestant Christians have been using this phraseology to refer to questioning their
salvation or even if God exists at all.

.
It sometimes happens that people liken Mother Teresa's darkness to the
darkness that Christ experienced on the cross where he inquired: My God,
my God, why have you forsake me? (Matt 27:46)

But Jesus' experience was very short: no more than six hours whereas
Teresa's was virtually five decades which is equivalent to 438,000 hours.
Now; I'm not a math whiz or a seminary graduate or anything like that but a
ratio of 438,000÷6 seems to me begging the point and/or stretching one's
imagination.
_

I am not sure why you brought her up,

Well here is a bit of different topic. I've heard of the 'dark night of the soul' and I am wondering what others think about it. I do have my own thoughts about it and have done some research, but my preference would be to simply discuss what others think about it. So in case you are not familiar with this concept, here is what it is according to some. It is actually a concept in Catholicism and has its roots in a poem written by a Spanish Carmelite monk and mystic. 'St. John of the Cross' wrote his eight stanza poem between 1577 -1579 and believed that this dark night was synonymous with travelling the 'narrow way' that Jesus spoke of (Matt. 7:13-14).

Some Protestant Christians have been using this phraseology to refer to questioning their salvation or even if God exists at all. It has also been used to describe in a generic way to refer to mental or emotional or even spiritual pain.

There does not seem to be an actual biblical reference to it in the sense that it is referred to by the author of the original poem, or the idea that this is a sort of right of passing for believers to go through in order to draw closer to God. So, just wondering what some of you might have to say about it or what you might think about it. If you want to learn more about it, there are plenty of references online.

Evil is real and is selfish to self and those it chooses to have as its own by force, mostly manipulation(s) to do its bidding, using Law to get people to do wrong to others over their needs they want to have. Uses, good things here on earth to give to those that obey evil. Having no real compassion for others.
God by Son Jesus overcame evil, death is overcome through Son (John 16:33) for us the people to stand in belief and be freed from evil presently only. I can only be freed in the present given me presently. (that is the present of God) Past is gone (faster then anyone can blink their eye) and I cannot do a thing about past, can you? Yet, I do get to learn from my mistakes and see this dark passenger, understand God took care of it through the cross of Son for me, you and everyone else too, thank you (John 1:29, 19:30)
It is done for us to ask and choose to do what God desires for us to do, and that is simply love all, not a few as the first born flesh only knows how to do. Therefore in belief be transformed by Father of risen Son for you too. (John 4:23-24)
Me, still in process, being in an unredeemed flesh and blood body, best I can do is willingly be dead to first birth daily in practice for me at least, (Romans 6)
Willing between God and me is the key that opened the door to begin seeing the hype of others here in this world and me too
So I die to me and this world daily to see through the veil as God allows when to see, not for me to jump ahead and get excited over things (the hype)

I think you are in the wrong thread.

Sorry, not meant to offend anyone I will leave it now, thanks

I think what you posted is applicable.
It was personal application, nothing wrong there.

It seems some people cannot or maybe refuse, to actually respond to the topic in the op. Is this deliberate disruption or just a desire to express themselves willy nilly all over the place with a captive audience? I asked what some people might think about something and receive a biography of Mother Theresa's unaddressed depression and then a mini sermon on evil. It's ridiculous. There is a time and a place for those things, but this thread was not one of them. I am starting to think that some people in this forum are not able to form a cogent response to a specific topic but instead must make everything about themself and wander off into the sunset and then become offended when someone asks if they might simply address the op.

And then we have the buddy system wherein someone comes along and tells them it's all ok. It's not actually and I am impressed by the tag team efforts in different threads to under-gird similar efforts with the express expectation that the favor will be returned. It's really a kind of 'control' feature that allows threads to continue for literally a couple of hundred pages with no end in sight and nothing ever achieved or any sort of clarity. Really, it's a grand waste of time. The insults that some offer (not referring to this particular op) are an example of people exhorting everyone but themself.

I'm sadly just going to ignore my own thread at this point and any and all so called further responses given.

Love covers a multitude of sins. Bear with people. Don't grow weary in well doing.

1 Peter 4:8

It seems some people cannot or maybe refuse, to actually respond to the topic in the op.

I am starting to think that some people in this forum are not able to form a cogent response to a specific topic but instead must make everything about themself and wander off into the sunset and then become offended when someone asks if they might simply address the op.