Many times throughout this journey, this adventure of life, I have felt deeply lost along the way. Yet, at the same time, not really lost. Alone. Not feeling the guidance which I believed was needed at a particular point along the path. Knowing though, that in that darkness, the light was still there, only hidden. By my choice? Maybe. By another’s? Possibly. But for what reason? Why is it necessary for each one of us to experience our own “dark night of the soul”?

I have found in my life that those were the times that offered much more growth than I would have had otherwise. These times allowed me opportunities to pray with such fervency, “I believe, help my unbelief”¹. Isn’t that what happens to each of us when we feel such abandonment by God? When we feel we have been left in the midst of turmoil to survive by our own devices? We easily come to believe that we are to solve all our issues on out own when the reality is far different. It is in these times we need His guidance more than ever.

We’ve not been abandoned. We have been given opportunity. A grand opportunity in the midst of our cries of despair and crises. A chance to stretch our faith. A chance to fall back on Him who is always near though we may not be aware of that closeness. A chance to ask Him to help our unbelief.

Yes, we do have many times in our lives where we believe we are deeply lost along the way. But we do well to remember that we are not truly lost. It is in this darkness that we are given a chance to ask Him, not for what we want, but for what we need, which He already knows. But he waits patiently and quietly for us to approach and ask. And it will be given.

1. Mk 9:24 [↩]