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Has anyone been through a long Dark Night of the Soul?
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<blockquote data-quote="~Anastasia~" data-source="post: 73803375" data-attributes="member: 343500"><p>There are different kinds of things people refer to as "dark nights" or times they cannot feel the presence of God. </p><p></p><p>Sometimes it is due to a mistake or drifting on our part, and God uses those to let us desire Him enough to correct it and return to Him. These can come along and be felt in different ways by anyone who is anywhere on the path toward Him. </p><p></p><p>Other times it can be God withdrawing, not because of anything wrong we do, but in order to allow us to grow from an immature kind of "hand-holding" faith to a more mature faith. Usually in this kind, God will encourage us along the way in small ways as we need it, but not with the intensity or constancy of the new birth. Some people never enter this stage. Some may enter it repeatedly. The faith journey is not a "one size fits all" and God alone knows the best way to grow us. And He is ultimately more interested in our growth in Christ than in the little comforts we receive from Him along the way. </p><p></p><p>Elder Sophrony (a disciple of St. Silouan the Athonite) - these two offer teachings through others about the second sort. But it is very "strong meat" and not a beginning place. However, they finally answered questions that had been the greatest in my mind for nearly twenty years when I found them. </p><p></p><p>Above all you must know that God does not abandon us. Our feelings should spur us toward Him and not lead us to despair. The rest is in the intimate and particular relationship and path toward it each of us takes toward Him. He can use others to reveal things that help us, but that requires discernment on our part. </p><p></p><p>Prayers for you. And please pray for me. May God have mercy on us all.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="~Anastasia~, post: 73803375, member: 343500"] There are different kinds of things people refer to as "dark nights" or times they cannot feel the presence of God. Sometimes it is due to a mistake or drifting on our part, and God uses those to let us desire Him enough to correct it and return to Him. These can come along and be felt in different ways by anyone who is anywhere on the path toward Him. Other times it can be God withdrawing, not because of anything wrong we do, but in order to allow us to grow from an immature kind of "hand-holding" faith to a more mature faith. Usually in this kind, God will encourage us along the way in small ways as we need it, but not with the intensity or constancy of the new birth. Some people never enter this stage. Some may enter it repeatedly. The faith journey is not a "one size fits all" and God alone knows the best way to grow us. And He is ultimately more interested in our growth in Christ than in the little comforts we receive from Him along the way. Elder Sophrony (a disciple of St. Silouan the Athonite) - these two offer teachings through others about the second sort. But it is very "strong meat" and not a beginning place. However, they finally answered questions that had been the greatest in my mind for nearly twenty years when I found them. Above all you must know that God does not abandon us. Our feelings should spur us toward Him and not lead us to despair. The rest is in the intimate and particular relationship and path toward it each of us takes toward Him. He can use others to reveal things that help us, but that requires discernment on our part. Prayers for you. And please pray for me. May God have mercy on us all. [/QUOTE]
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