Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14
“These souls turn back at such a time if there is none who understands them; they abandon the road or lose courage; or, at the least, they are hindered from going farther by the great trouble which they take in advancing along the road of meditation and reasoning. Thus they fatigue and overwork their nature, imagining that they are failing through negligence or sin. But this trouble that they are taking is quite useless, for God is now leading them by another road, which is that of contemplation, and is very different from the first; for the one is of meditation and reasoning, and the other belongs neither to imagination nor yet to reasoning.
It is well for those who find themselves in this condition to take comfort, to persevere in patience and to be in no wise afflicted. Let them trust in God, Who abandons not those that seek Him with a simple and right heart, and will not fail to give them what is needful for the road, until He bring them into the clear and pure light of love. This last He will give them by means of that other dark night, that of the spirit, if they merit His bringing them thereto.
The way in which they are to conduct themselves in this night of sense is to devote themselves not at all to reasoning and meditation, since this is not the time for it, but to allow the soul to remain in peace and quietness, although it may seem clear to them that they are doing nothing and are wasting their time, and although it may appear to them that it is because of their weakness that they have no desire in that state to think of anything. The truth is that they will be doing quite sufficient if they have patience and persevere in prayer…”
John of the Cross (1542-1591) in Dark Night of the Soul, translated and edited by E. Allison Peers (New York: Image Books, 1959) 10.2.
Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross is another book from the list in 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics.
This classic book reminds readers that dark times provide margin for contemplation. Such times are sometimes painful but simultaneously necessary for our growth. This book really ministered to me yesterday!
When I woke, the year-end need for GTP was still about $86,179. Then I read and meditated on Chapter 10 of this book entitled, “Of the way in which these souls are to conduct themselves in this dark night.”
I was contemplating. How should I conduct myself with two days to go? Perhaps you can relate? For a project or goal, you did everything you could to help achieve a goal, and it seemed like it was not enough.
The temptation is to lose heart, to get discouraged, or to overwork. I have done each of these things in the past. But I resolved yesterday to pray, trust God, wait for Him and abide in His love. It changed me.
God graciously reminded me that He will provide “what is needful for the road” because He knows the road ahead for me. Download the ebook. Take time to contemplate and rest in His love.
And, would you wait on the Lord with me, persevere with me, pray with me for God to release “what is needful for the road” to respond to needs in these countries?
Ukraine, Poland, Czeckia, Slovakia, Romania, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Brazil, Malawi, Argentina, Philippines, Bolivia, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Zambia, and India.
Click here to make a year-end gift to GTP. The remaining need is $65,414 with one day to go. Thanks for trusting God with me to provide “what is needful for the road.”
Together we are empowering national workers to build trust and grow local giving, so they don’t need support from outsiders. Your support helps turn dependency into discipleship.