(from Journal entry, 10-3-22)
At our weakest moment, God will allow Satan to present a panorama of memories and recollections of our sordid past sins, weaknesses, and spiritual failures. This is our passage through the valley of the dark night of the soul.
It issues from many sources. Betrayals and the pain that may linger from them may come. Or our thoughts may take a journey once again into the night’s memories of yesteryear’s shortcomings.
In this weakened state, spiritual trouble comes with our thoughts about how destitute of love we were. We begin to see our selfish naked egos, stained with pride, justifying our use of others, of those who our Savior died for. It is as if we are peering into the screen of a time machine, a mirror that reflects just how we really were. We peer into the fruitless past, and that same panic of being lost in the maze of life, grips us as we look back and long and lament our adolescent idiocy and our selfish egoism.
We must fearlessly look at the images and believe that they are mere relics of our past life. Remember how Christ was tempted? Satan offered up full control of his kingdom to Christ if He would play ball with him. Christ resisted all the temptations. Now Christ in us resists them as well.
Christ with great mercy has promised that He would “never leave us nor forsake us.” Especially when Satan thrusts in our face our sins and faults of yesteryear. He is the “accuser of the brethren.” But it is the great mercy of our King that reigns supreme. He has our backs. He allows us to think these fleeting thoughts to show us more clearly the magnificent deliverance from sin that He has wrought in our lives. For that is what it was—not is! We remember that we are His, bought with His blood. And He leads us through this moonless trek, this suffocating remembrance of what we once were.
Through this experience, however, we learn that we have been forgiven much. Therefore, we will love much, which fulfills His purpose of reproducing Himself (Agape love) in us. Christ said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Luke 7:47 NKJV). These trials whereof we speak shows us that we have been forgiven much. A painful trudge down the “valley of the shadow of death” during our “dark night of the soul” shows us that. Those of us who see the reality of our shameful pasts and receive His forgiveness will love much. Those who do not see that they have been forgiven all that much—they will love only a little. “Her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
Finally, Satan tries to use these memories to condemn us, but God uses them to show us a clearer picture of just how evil our old nature was. Through this trial, we see more clearly just how much we have been forgiven—how much selfish ungodliness we have been delivered from.
For in the end, only those who see and realize how much sin they have been forgiven will love much. Only those will bear much fruit, thus becoming more like Christ and His apostles. That is His goal and purpose: our maturity, which fulfills His purpose of multiplying Agape Love, which is Him.
The “dark night of the soul” experience is part of His plan to fulfill His purpose: to reproduce Agape love in us, thus reproducing Himself till Love be “all in all” (I Cor. 15:28). His plan is to keep on perfecting until all that is left is Love. [Would you share your “dark night of the soul” in the comments section? The testimonies of the Father’s sons and daughters are so important. “Likes” are nice and appreciated, but a comment fashioned by the Spirit with words from the heart—that is what moves us. That is what edifies and helps us mature. That we may grow “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13). For it is the “power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). Your comments will be read all over the globe. Reach out and share your story?] Kenneth Wayne Hancock
Immortality Road 
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As I read of what you call the dark night of the soul it brings to mind the valley of the shadow of death that so many have read to them of the 23rd Psalm at funerals, and I believe this Psalm is for our life now as we live and the Lord walks beside us through the valley. I am moved to share my testimony and may others come to know that many times it is in our darkest moments God shines His brightest!
My Testimony
My testimony is one similar to that of Samuel, because it took him a few times to get that it was God who was calling him. 35 years ago we had a bad flood which took the life of my best friend who was only 26 at the time. We knew each other since we were in 5th grade. She moved to california and had just returned at the time so we had to get together and about two weeks after visiting off and on the flood came and she was gone. It broke my heart for we were like sisters. I remember vividly crying myself to sleep and my heart hurt so much I too prayed for death! The next morning the most beautiful voice I had ever heard called my name. I jumped out of bed thinking someone must be over to visit and looked out the window to see no one there. So I carried on with my day thinking nothing of it.
The next morning I was awakened by that same voice saying my name so I did the same thing thinking someone was visiting and sure enough no one was there. Sometimes the way I start to read the bible I just open and believe that is where I should be reading and that morning was the exact story where God was calling Samuel as he thought it was Eli who had called him and I cried and cried thinking that beautiful voice had to be God!!!! Many miraculous things began to happen after that as God continued to answer through His word different situations in my life. The first thing after this encounter was my being saved from the empty practice of the catholic religion………
I remember vividly the day I walked out of that building for the last time and looked up and said “God you are not here and I am not going back.!!!……… Sure enough the next time I opened my bible there was the answer straight from my beautiful Father as when I opened the bible again that day this was the passages I read and at this time and I PRAY OTHERS WILL SEE THIS TRUTH of where He is! (Isaiah 12:10-13) Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Over the years there have been many other places in scripture that confirm I left where God wasn’t and it has only strengthened my faith! We are the true living breathing church of Christ by His Holy Spirit of which Christ is the chief cornerstone! (1 peter 2:4-10),(2 Corinthians 6:14-18),(1 Corinthians 3:16,17). For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.(Hebrews 9:24).
Julia
Sister Julia, what a touching and inspiring testimony! Thank you for sharing it with us. To be delivered like that from catholicism is a huge step. Many just cannot escape its treacherous tenacles, for whatever reason. I thought of how God is “near to them of a broken heart and a contrite spirit” when you shared about losing your dear friend. You are right; brokenness is the condition of our hearts that can receive a radical change in our spiritual makeup. Thanks again. I am pleased that you approve of the things that I share. Very encouraging. May He continue to speak to and through you. Wayne
It is such a joy to share your writings as they reflect the Fathers heart for His children. Just as Peter was asked by the Lord “Whom say ye that I am?” and was told flesh and blood did not reveal the truth Peter spoke that He was the Christ, you too speak the truth by His spirit!
Stay the course my Dear Brother for nothing is ever done in vain in the Lord Yahshua.
Julia
Thank you for the encouraging words. Thanks for your help in spreading the truth. kwh
Amen! I needed this reminder!!
Thanks for your comment. kwh
“And I will give you the treasures of darkness, even treasures in secret places, that you may know that I am Jehovah, who calls you by your name, the God of Israel.”
Dark night lead to glorious mornings.
Blessings brother,
BT
Awesome passage: “the treasures of darkness.” He gives us these dark experiences so that we may know who He really is. And it is He “who calls you by your name…” Good stuff. Thanks again. kwh
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