But if I go East—He is not there;
West—I still do not perceive Him;
North—since He is concealed, I do not behold Him;
South—He is hidden, and I cannot see Him. Job 23:8-9
Through the rest of this week we’ll wonder, with Job, where is God? Where is God in the midst of enormous challenges facing his creation and his ‘children’ throughout creation—even those we consider our ‘enemies’? And where is God in the challenges we face? ~dan
Sometimes the sound in the chimes is filled with pauses and faint, sometimes incessant and loud. What do you hear?
Was Job inside the ‘dark night of the soul’?
If you have never heard of the dark night of the soul, I hope this book will give you an appreciation of what it means historically and, more important, what it might mean in your own life. The dark night is a profoundly good thing. It is an ongoing spiritual process in which we are liberated from attachments and compulsions and empowered to live and love more freely. Sometimes this letting go of old ways is painful, occasionally even devastating. But this is not why the night is called “dark.” The darkness of the night implies nothing sinister, only that the liberation takes place in hidden ways, beneath our knowledge and understanding. It happens mysteriously, in secret, and beyond our conscious control. For that reason it can be disturbing or even scary, but in the end it always works to our benefit.
May, Gerald G. (2009-03-25). The Dark Night of the Soul (pp. 4-5). HarperCollins e-books. Kindle Edition.
Questions from the Sunday Morning Forum
In a Comment to Wind Chimes: 14 Oct 2012 Diane writes,
I enjoyed the lively Forum discussion this morning. What an incredible group with wonderfully varied points of view! I have some questions and thoughts — sort of a offshoot from our discussion of Job — and would love to know what others are thinking about suffering, darkness, and walking with God.
I encourage you to read her Comment. She ends by asking some questions. I encourage you to share your responses with her and the community.
- Have you ever experienced difficulty finding God when you’re going through times of suffering or “darkness of the soul”?
- Do you think it’s okay to be honest with God when we’re upset by what we’re going through? Is it okay to be, gasp, angry with God?
- Have you ever looked back after passing through difficult times and noticed these were times of great spiritual growth?
You may read Diane’s complete Comment, and leave your response, HERE
An Evening Prayer
Walk in the light, the beautiful light.
Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.
Shine all around us by day and by night.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Claiborne, Shane; Wilson-Hartgrove, Jonathan; Okoro, Enuma (2010-11-09). Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (p. 41). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Hear what the Spirit is saying 