Embracing the Night Season

 

Life is a journey filled with seasons, and just like the changing seasons in nature, our lives also go through different phases. Some seasons are bright and joyful, while challenges and darkness mark others. One such season, often referred to as the “night season,” carries a deep and profound spiritual significance as it is ordained by God and filtered through the Father’s loving hands. It signifies a period in a believer’s life when we are permitted to experience emotions characterized by darkness, confusion, and isolation, even in the absence of known sin.

It can feel like the light has dimmed in the night season, and you are stumbling through life in spiritual dimness. You may find it challenging to discern God’s presence or purpose in your circumstances. This darkness can manifest as doubts, fear, or spiritual dryness. Your once-clear path may become clouded with uncertainity. Questions about your faith, purpose, and relationship with God may arise. This confusion can be disorienting and unsettling.

The night season often carries a feeling of profound isolation.  It may seem as though you are walking this path alone, without the support or understanding of those around you. This isolation can be emotionally and spiritually taxing.

It’s crucial to understand that the night season is not a punishment but a divine appointment. It is a season ordained by God for your spiritual growth and refinement. Just as gold is purified in the fire, so too is your faith refined in the crucible of the night season. In the Bible, we see examples of individuals like Job, David, and even Jesus Himself experiencing their own dark nights of the soul.

On September 13, 2020, a season of darkness descended upon my life. The world was in turmoil, and I also faced personal trials. It was a period of uncertainty and despair, lasting until July 24, 2023. My faith was tested in ways I could never have imagined during this time.

I could identify with Job, a man cherished and blessed by God, who cried out, “…nights of trouble are appointed me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues…” (Job 7: 3-4). It puzzled me how a man as virtuous and upright as Job could undergo such a profound period of darkness. Unwavering in his faith, Job faced a season of anguish permitted by God. Job remained resolute in his faith, never faltering in his belief in God. Yet, God allowed this cherished man to navigate a season of profound sorrow. The question lingers: Why?In the midst of my struggles, I turned to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which became my guiding light. Those verses spoke of love’s patience, kindness, and endurance. They reminded me that love was not just a feeling but a choice, an action, and a commitment.

In my night season, I learned the true essence of love. I discovered that loving the Lord with all my heart meant trusting Him even in the darkest times, knowing He was there with me, guiding me through the storm. I learned to love with all my soul by surrendering my worries and fears to Him, finding solace in His presence.

My mind was filled with thoughts of God’s goodness, and I meditated on His word, finding comfort and wisdom in the scriptures. And with all my strength, I served others selflessly, realizing that in helping those in need, I was expressing my love for God.

But my journey wasn’t just about my love for God. It also transformed my love for my husband, Mel. I learned that the same principles of love I applied to my relationship with God could be helpful in my marriage, particularly as I became Mel’s caregiver. I became more patient, kind, and forgiving, understanding that love was not just an emotion but a daily choice to cherish and support my husband.

As Mel neared the end of his earthly journey, the darkness of my night season began to be lifted. I emerged with a newfound understanding of love. I now knew that loving the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength was a continuous journey, a daily commitment to trust, seek, and serve. And I realized that this love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, was the source of my strength, enabling me to weather any storm and love both God and Mel more deeply than ever before.

Mel taught me about agape love. He willingly gave his all to me as we walked his final journey together, ending July 24, 2023. Mel taught me how to hang on during the night season and opened the door to my understanding of agape love.

What did Job come to understand about his night season? What did I come to realize about my night season? Job’s statement in Job 42:5 is his response after God intervenes and speaks to him in a whirlwind. “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye sees Thee…” (Job 42:5).  In this divine encounter, God doesn’t directly answer Job’s questions but instead emphasizes His divine wisdom and sovereignty. Job realizes the limitations of his own understanding and acknowledges that he had heard about God through secondhand accounts (hearing of God by the hearing of the ear).

However, in the midst of his suffering and through this encounter with God, Job’s spiritual perception deepens, and he “sees” or “experiences” God more profoundly, leading to a transformation. His faith and trust in God are strengthened, and he gains a deeper, more intimate understanding of his Creator.

In the book of Job, we find a story that is both timeless and deeply meaningful, one that metaphorically represents the night season or a period of darkness that many of us may experience in our lives. Through Job’s story, we can see that suffering can lead to a transformative encounter with God, strengthening our faith and trust and, ultimately, allowing us to experience God profoundly and personally.

Job’s story is one of enduring faith in the face of unimaginable suffering. Like many of us, he faced trials and tribulations that seemed impossible. He lost his wealth, health, and even his family, and his friends offered no solace. It was as if he was engulfed in a never-ending night, an impenetrable darkness. But it was amid this darkness that Job’s transformation journey began.

In the same way, I, too, have experienced my own night season, a time of profound hardship and suffering. It was a period in my life when I felt lost, hopeless, and utterly alone. I faced challenges that I thought I could never overcome, and I questioned the purpose of my existence. It was as if I was wandering in the darkest of nights, searching for a glimmer of light.

But just as Job’s suffering led to a deeper understanding of God, my own struggles eventually brought me to a transformative encounter with the Divine. I clung to my faith through the pain and heartache, much like Job did. I prayed, sought comfort in Scripture, and poured out my heart to God. And it was during those long nights of suffering that I, too, was transformed.

Job 42:5, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my spiritual eye sees You...”, captures the essence of my journey. I knew God and experienced His promises and love, but I truly experienced His presence during my darkest moments. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and I could see God with new eyes that perceived His love, grace, and unwavering presence in my life. My suffering, much like Job’s, led to significant spiritual growth. It deepened my faith, strengthened my trust in God, and allowed me to transition from merely knowing God to experiencing Him intimately.

In conclusion, the story of Job serves as a powerful metaphor for the trials and tribulations we all face in life. It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is hope for transformation, for a deeper connection with the Divine. Through our suffering, we can grow spiritually, strengthen our faith, and experience God profoundly and personally. May we all find the strength to persevere through our own night seasons and emerge into the light of a transformative encounter with the Divine.