Book II, Chapter I Summary and Analysis

After passing through the dark night of the soul, the beginning Christian becomes a proficient Christian, who is more purposeful and enjoys more inward delight than the beginning Christian. Spiritual anxiety is replaced by peacefulness. God may send additional short periods of darkness to continue to purge the soul. The most intense darkness is reserved for those God wants to bring closest to Him. Even in the proficient state, the Christian still has weaknesses. For example, the spirit of the man is still held back by the body and sensual portion of the man.