How to Get Out of Spiritual Darkness
Adapted from a Tim Keller Sermon
Sometimes it feels as if God has disappeared from our lives. We can become desperate and depressed, confused as to what we may have done wrong. We may be more equipped to charge forward and attack problems than to maintain our faith in setbacks and sickness, particularly when we don’t know why. In those moments, what should we do?
The author of Psalms 42 and 43 was experiencing spiritual darkness. He searched desperately for God, like a parched deer. Note that he didn’t express any guilt, implying he didn’t think he had sinned.
Spiritual dryness and disappointment are inevitable, but long periods can derail our faith.
What might be the cause?
The author was enduring a difficult time, such that his enemies were taunting him about where his God was. Distraught, he found himself asking God the same question (Psalm 42:3,9).
He might have lost his support group. Previously, the author was in the house of God with a large, festive crowd, but now he might be isolated in the mountains. We need a community. We need to be actively involved in and supported by others (Psalm 42:4,6).
He might have been physically deprived. Crying all night with tears as food, he wasn’t sleeping and eating right. Physical weakness and fatigue can lead to depression (Psalm 42:3).
What did the author do?
He kept praying, pouring out his soul and dryness to God. He remembered the love of God, the God of his life (Psalm 42:4, 6, 8).
He preached to himself and put his hope in God. Three times he questioned his soul, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Then three times he responded, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5,11; 43:5).
We must learn to tell ourselves to shut up and preach God’s grace to ourselves: ask if you’ve forgotten what God have done for you; if you’ve forgotten His love, that He demonstrated in sending His beloved Son to die for you. Anchor in God and praise Him.
To conclude, to get through spiritual darkness, we must: earnestly pray to God, remember His love, find a support group, mind our health, preach to ourselves, and trust and praise God.
Adapted from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/finding-god-6252/
The author of Psalms 42 and 43 was experiencing spiritual darkness. He searched desperately for God, like a parched deer. Note that he didn’t express any guilt, implying he didn’t think he had sinned.
Spiritual dryness and disappointment are inevitable, but long periods can derail our faith.
What might be the cause?
The author was enduring a difficult time, such that his enemies were taunting him about where his God was. Distraught, he found himself asking God the same question (Psalm 42:3,9).
He might have lost his support group. Previously, the author was in the house of God with a large, festive crowd, but now he might be isolated in the mountains. We need a community. We need to be actively involved in and supported by others (Psalm 42:4,6).
He might have been physically deprived. Crying all night with tears as food, he wasn’t sleeping and eating right. Physical weakness and fatigue can lead to depression (Psalm 42:3).
What did the author do?
He kept praying, pouring out his soul and dryness to God. He remembered the love of God, the God of his life (Psalm 42:4, 6, 8).
He preached to himself and put his hope in God. Three times he questioned his soul, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Then three times he responded, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5,11; 43:5).
We must learn to tell ourselves to shut up and preach God’s grace to ourselves: ask if you’ve forgotten what God have done for you; if you’ve forgotten His love, that He demonstrated in sending His beloved Son to die for you. Anchor in God and praise Him.
To conclude, to get through spiritual darkness, we must: earnestly pray to God, remember His love, find a support group, mind our health, preach to ourselves, and trust and praise God.
Adapted from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/finding-god-6252/