Book Two: Night of the Spirit│Chapter 7
The soul is in pain and sees no way out. When she thinks about past good times the pain and sorrow increases
She is reminded of Job and his multitude of sufferings
The hidden secret of all this grief is that the Soul, like Job, is being weaned off even the most natural and morally upright consolations
It is as if the pain is asking this question, “Is God alone enough for you?”
The soul in this storm of isolation deserves compassion
Even in this dark grief though she doesn’t know it great blessings leading to union are being born
The soul finds no comfort in doctrine or spiritual teaching
There is no way out until God finishes the purification
The soul can do very little to help herself
This suffering is in direct proportion to the depth of union that will be granted
God grants intervals of relief. She might think the trials are over. She might also be on the edge waiting for the trials to kick back up.
“The soul in this purification is so in love with God that she would give 1000 lives for him” This deepens her pain.
The soul experiences a dark fear of being abandoned and left behind by God who does not even know “how to be absent” or abandon any part of creation.
