The Dark Night of the Soul

When my spirit faints within me,

you know my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

Look to the right and see:

there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me;

no one cares for my soul. Psalm 142:3-4

There are seasons in our Christian life when we feel spiritually dry and all alone.

Like the psalmist in our reading today, “our spirit faints within us.” We sense hidden traps and temptations along the way. We feel as if no one notices, no one cares for our soul.

“No refuge remains to me.” There seems to be no safe place left for us. Some Christians call this the “desert experience.” The desert is a barren place. No one is there. If you cry out, you may not even hear the echo of your own voice.

St. John of the Cross described it as “the dark night of the soul.” These are seasons of deep struggle, spiritual dryness, and inner darkness—when God feels absent, prayers seem unanswered, and faith is tested.

The reasons can vary. Sometimes it is a change in our outward circumstances. At other times, it is something within us—mental, emotional, or spiritual weariness. Externally, nothing may have changed, yet our inner life feels unsettled. Modern living, tied to our devices and social media, can also affect us in ways we may not fully understand. For some, it may be a season of illness, or simply the slow process of aging.

Whatever the cause, many believers across the ages have walked through such valleys. And in those moments, like the psalmist, all we can do is pray and cry out to the Lord.

So if you find yourself in such a place, will you lift up your cry to Him? Or perhaps you know someone going through such a season. Then remember them in your prayers today.