There are days even when we are walking with the Lord, that everything is not clear. Days when we drive to work and the chipper voices on Christian radio are not encouraging.
Days that St John of the cross called "The Dark Night of the Soul."
During these days, we are tested. How will we respond?
Jesus once said to Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31 (NIV)
During those times, when everyone else's prayers seem to be answered but yours, at those times when the Lord seems distant, and we are left with more questions than answers.
At those times when Jesus' teaching is simply hard to understand.
How will we respond in our own Dark Night of the soul?
Reading in John's Gospel
"On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:60-69 (NIV)
Will we walk away, or will we realized that Jesus alone has the Words of eternal life?
