February 18: Trusting the Work God does in the Darkness

Gregg’s Reflection

There are seasons when both body and soul feel as though they’ve entered a vast darkness. Mechtild of Magdeburg described it as a time when “one loses light and consciousness and knows nothing more of God’s intimacy.” I’ve known this feeling. In those moments, it seems as if the light in the lantern has gone out. My first instinct is often to prove myself worthy of love, but I’ve learned that God will let me hit that wall again and again because He refuses to reinforce the illusion that I can do this on my own.

Thomas Aquinas reminds us that no one is completely devoid of divine light — it still radiates, even when we cannot see it. The challenge is to trust this truth in the darkness. For me, that trust often begins with letting go of thoughts that pull me into the past or future. God is only experienced in the present moment, and learning to return there — again and again — is my way of cooperating with His hidden work.

In the dark night, we are drawn beyond ego into deeper union with God. This is not about gaining more knowledge, but about surrendering control, cultivating a “simple loving attention toward the Beloved.” It is here, in luminous darkness, that trust grows and our love matures.

Scripture

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—darkness of water, thick clouds of the skies.

Psalm 18:11 

It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion.

1 Timothy 6:16 

Ancient Quotes

There comes a time when both body and soul enter into such a vast darkness that one loses light and consciousness and knows nothing more of God’s intimacy. At such a time when the light in the lantern burns out the beauty of the lantern can no longer be seen.

Mechtild of Magdeburg, Meditations with Mechtild of Magdeburg, p. 60–61

The divine darkness is the unapproachable light in which God is said to dwell.

Pseudo-Dionysius, Mystical Theology, I

Modern Quotes

The only action left to the soul, ultimately, is to put down its self-importance and cultivate a simple loving attention toward the Beloved.

Mirabai Starr, Living School Teaching

Not-knowing and not even needing to know is a deeper way of knowing and a deeper form of compassion. John of the Cross called faith ‘luminous darkness.’ Contemplation is a different  form of knowledge that emerges inside the ‘cloud of unknowing.

Richard Rohr, A Spring Within, p. 332–333

Journaling Prompts

• When has God done unseen work in your life that later became clear?
  
  
• How might you cooperate with His work now, even if you can’t perceive it?
  
  
• What would it look like to rest in His timing?
  
  
• Who will you reach out to in your dark times?

Ponder what you have learned from time in the dark night. Was the learning worth the pain? Richard Rohr says, “Whatever you think God is, God isn’t”

👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 7 Reflection: Dark Night / Cloud of Unknowing