There is a place for solitude in all of our lives!

The best way to comprehend the importance of solitude is to learn from the life of Christ. When did he practice solitude? What insights can we learn from his example? The Bible gives us a number of illustrations when Jesus separated himself from people. There are six reasons to consider.

1. To Prepare For A Major Task – Luke 4:1-2,14-15. After the baptism of Christ he spent 40 days praying in the wilderness. Afterwards he was tempted by Satan followed by the launch of his public ministry. Major intersections of life require seasons of solitude to prepare for a new level in life.
2. To Recharge After Hard Work – Mark 6:30-32. Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to do ministry. When they returned He encouraged them to separate from the people who were following them to rest. Ministry leadership is draining. Solitude is required to refocus and ground yourself in the present.
3. To Work Through Grief – Matthew 14:1-13. After Jesus learned about John the Baptist being beheaded, he went away by himself. Yes, even Jesus the Son of God grieves. Recovering from losses in life is a journey not a quick stop. Times of reflection via solitude are necessary for the grief cycle to come full circle.
4. Before Making An Important Decision – Luke 6:12-13. Early in his ministry Jesus spent the night in prayer which was followed by the selection of the 12 disciples. Life occurs quickly! Major decisions do not! Take time to fully review, reflect, and reorder your thoughts to see if this decision is in alignment with my core beliefs.
5. In A Time of Distress – Luke 22:39-44. Just prior to Jesus’ arrest he went to the Mount of Olives and went a short distance from his disciples to pray. He was in great agony knowing what was to occur. There are times in life when major life-altering circumstances will come. There is a place for agonizing prayer to “prayer through” the issues of life.
6. To Focus On Prayer – Luke 5:16. Jesus modeled on numerous occasions the need to practice prayer in a quiet place. I would encourage the establishment of a place that is special, accessible, and with a great view that you can repeatedly return to for prayer and reflection. Solitude cleanses the soul and purges the mind of the junk that can accumulate on a daily basis.

No doubt there are many insights that can be arrived at, but these represent a few choice reflections that originated by an author that I was not able to obtain. These thoughts are the result of others that have poured into my life to cause me to reflect in solitude. Excuse me while I go to that place of reflection…..