The Dark Night of the SoulSample

Paul

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7

Many Christians love and relate to Paul on some level. This man, who once hated Christians and everything they stood for and even carried out executions against them, was transformed by the amazing, blinding light of Christ.

Whereas God picked Job, a blameless man, to suffer, He picked Saul, a sinful man, to carry out His missionary work. Once again, we cannot understand the ways of God, but because most of us have a sinful past, we are thankful God could use a man like Paul.

Jesus came to Saul and said,

“I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:15-18

Paul accepted his Holy mission and lived the rest of his life for Christ. He preached the gospel, planted churches, healed the sick, encouraged believers, and was responsible for two-thirds of the New Testament writings.

There’s no doubt he suffered along the way; he recounts this in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27:

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

Paul talks about the “thorn in the flesh” he endured. He pleaded with God to take it away, and God told him,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a

No one knows what Paul’s “thorn” was though some commentaries believe it had to do with failing eyesight. I’ve pondered this possibility, and it makes sense to me. Our greatest strength can often be our downfall if it leads to pride and self-sufficiency. It seems God must remind us that our true strength comes from Him. God powerfully touched Paul, which was a big part of his testimony. He often talked about how God touched His eyes and blinded them, only to give him sight later. Perhaps a struggle with Paul’s vision would continually remind him how God saved him.

Paul’s response to the Lord regarding the thorn was this:

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a-10

Wow! Do you think Paul understood the Dark Night of the Soul? Absolutely! What would his advice be if we were in our Dark Night?

Delight in it so that Christ’s power may rest upon you.