If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark. - John of the Cross

God leads into the dark night those whom He desires to purify from all these imperfections so that He may bring them farther onward.

To reach satisfaction in all, desire satisfaction in nothing. To come to possess all, desire the possession of nothing. To arrive at being all, desire to be nothing. To come to the knowledge of all, desire the knowledge of nothing. To come to enjoy what you have not, you must go by a way in which you enjoy not. To come to the possession you have not, you must go by a way in which you possess not. To come to what you are not, you must go by a way in which you are not.

John of the Cross

Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.