I'm most impressed with Colson's boldness. It isn't easy to say that sometimes things get really rough....that there are times when faith isn't absent, but it sure gets difficult.
The Book of Job is a testament to a faith becoming a wobbly faith and then a necessity for God to reprove even Job.
I appreciate the reminder that faith in Christ far outweighs our feelings. At the same time, Jesus did not kick the "I believe; help my unbelief." man to the curb.
And then there's the fact of our physical and mental weakness. Some are even more weak mentally. So, combine a dark night of the soul with a person inclined toward depression, and you could easily come up with one who could have "dark years of the soul."
I'm human. I'm weak. There but for the grace of God go I.
Yes, years of darkness of the soul can easily be attributed to depressionn. That is a physical imbalance of chemicals in the body. The darkness should not be attributed to God, or to the absence of God, for He is never absent. He is always the Light.
Zoloft can help if it is a depression caused the death of a loved one. There are other medications available for chronic depression.
I would equate these doubting leaders with drunk drivers. I am going to be sure and not follow them too closely.
I almost always find Mr. Colson’s perspective edifying.
Those who are on the front lines - whether it’s serving in prisons, like Mr. Colson, or serving the dying destitute, like Mother Teresa - leave me with the impression that I’m not really even trying, in my comfortable suburban lifeQ!
I like Colson a lot, and I think he certainly had experience about the external conditions that could create suffering and loss of faith - or at the same time, discovery of faith.
I guess that faith is faith in “things unseen” and also in “things unfelt.” It is a commitment that outlives our good feelings, but for that same reason, as you say, a commitment that outlives our depressions and bad feelings.