The Dark Night: Common Even Among Saints

For those who feel a dryness in their spiritual walk, take heart.

Time reports on a new book based on Mother Teresa's writings. Even this saint of the 20th century experience a prolonged "dark night of the soul." The Time article overviews the implications of this new discovery---yes, even Mother Teresa was human.

Spiritual dryness is part of the human experience. Atheists may attempt to use this new revelation to further arguments about the futility of faith, and I pity their shallowness.

The reality we all must face is that the spiritual walk is not, nor was it ever intended to be, based on our emotional experience. It is to be based on faith, which the Bible defines as "confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." (Hebrews 11:1, New Living Translation).

Having an emotional experience does not equate to faith or to verification that God is right here with us, right now. The warm fuzzy's are not confirmation of God's existence.

Christians risk bringing their faith life crashing down if it is based on such a passionate foundation. A healthy relationship with God and faith in Him is based on having settled the question in our heart and mind that 1) God is right here, and 2) God loves you.

Even when we don't feel loved, God loves us. Even when the circumstances of life come crashing down, God loves us.

The world often desires to equate God's love for us and life circumstances. But God's love moves beyond earthly, temporal confinement, including emotions. God has provided eternal redemption for humanity. In other words, for she who believes that Jesus saves her from her sins, there is nothing--nothing in this world that can destroy her, not even death!!

The world would argue, "Oh, she died. That must prove there is no God." But for she who may have died a temporal death, God has provided much more and much better than anything this life can offer.

I'm glad to know even Mother Teresa experienced prolonged spiritual dryness in her walk with God. In spite of her "dark night", God still used her life and is using her legacy in a poignant way.

May we all aspire to be used in the same manner.

As for me, I find a bit of a spiritual oasis in this new discovery.