From Darkest Night to Morning’s Light
February 25, 2024
Silence can be deafening, especially when you’re used to living amidst the clamor and commotion of our noisy world. But what happens when God is silent? Join us for the final message in The Care and Feeding of the Human Soul as we discuss the dark night of the soul to see how it can draw us closer to God.
Passage
Matthew 27:46
Principle
The Dark Night of the Soul Isn’t just a time of ##suffering##, but a time when ##suffering## is accompanied by God’s ##silence##.
Practice
What do we do in the Dark Night of the Soul:
- Be ##patient## and learn to ##wait## on the Lord.
- Remember that you are ##not## ##God##.
- Ask for ##help##.
- Hold on to the truth that ##God## ##loves## ##you##.
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.
HANGOUT
Describe the most profound silence you’ve experienced. What did it feel like? In some cultures, silence between two individuals signifies the depth of their relationship. Is that true in our culture? Have you ever experienced a time of prolonged silence in your relationship with God?
HEAR
Read Psalm 22:1-8
- What prompted Jesus to quote the opening verse of this Psalm? What else from Jesus’ experience on the cross do you see in these verses?
- Have you ever felt like God had forsaken you?
- The word “yet” in verse three indicates a contrasting idea. What is it, and how does that idea help us when we feel abandoned by God?
Read Psalm 22:9-18
- Compare these verses to Jesus’ experience on the cross.
- Can you relate to these verses? If so, how?
Read Psalm 22:19-31
- What is the Psalmist’s conclusion to his Dark Night of the Soul?
- Compare the Psalmist’s conclusion to Job’s (Job 1:21 & Job 13:15 NKJV). Are they ignoring their circumstances? How do you explain their reaction?
- What counsel will you offer someone who is feeling abandoned by God?
HUDDLE
Are you currently experiencing a Dark Night of the Soul? How can others pray for you while you wait on the Lord? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray together.
Daily Reading
This week’s reading plan focuses on times when people felt abandoned by God. As you read, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal how God works in times of silence.
- Day 1: Matthew 27
- Day 2: Psalm 22
- Day 3: Psalm 38
- Day 4: Job 40
- Day 5: Job 41-42
- Day 6: Psalm 88
- Day 7: Psalm 130
Think Deeper
- Have you experienced a time of prolonged silence from God? Are you experiencing it now?
- What does Jesus’ experience on the cross teach you about God’s silence?
- What does it mean to “wait on the Lord”?
Suggested Reading
Soul Keeping, by John Ortberg
The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard
Check out these and other books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB.