Solitude is a state of being that most of us have never experienced. In the world of technology that we live in, you can be quarantined and still not be in solitude. Rarely do any of us experience a time when we have no contact with the outside world. Many means of communication are available, even though it may be one-way communication such as a television. We still are connected and know what is going on. Most of us have two-way communication through computers, cell phones, and many other devices that can connect with the internet. Many still have home phones that are connected through cables. Others live in a home where they are not the only person. We seem to be a society that pulls away from any form of solitude. What would you do if you were told you had to be in solitude?
I believe there is a great need in each of our lives to have a time of solitude where everything and everyone is placed on hold for a period of time. I honestly feel this is needed every day. It is not something that will just happen, you must purpose for it to happen. Even now, while we are experiencing a pandemic, you still don’t have solitude unless you purpose for it to happen. You may be in quarantine, but even there you have connections.
The example for our lives, the one we measure our lives by, to see if we are on track, is Jesus. He taught us the value of solitude. He withdrew from crowds, and even his friends, often. His solitude was a major theme of His earthly life.
When Jesus was baptized by John in Mark 1:10, we see the trinity revealing their presence at one event. Jesus, the Son of God was baptized, the Holy Spirit comes from Heaven to Him in the form of a dove, and God the Father speaks. He immediately goes into solitude in the wilderness. There he suffers great temptation, yet He never sins. He suffers as any man would in this situation, loneliness, hunger from fasting, tired, and weary, with no conveniences of a home. He chose to go through this before He would enter His formal ministry. He not only understood the agony of this because He was God in the flesh, but He understood it from the physical side of man too.
Mark 1:10-13 “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”
In Mark 1:35, we see Jesus seeking solitude to pray. He sought solitude early in the day before others desired His attention. He sought solitude to spend time with the Father first, before anything else. We could learn much from seeking God first in the day.
Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
Many days it was difficult to find solitude. His fame grew because of His teaching and His healing, the crowds followed Him. It wasn’t easy to get away for rest, or for a time to meet with the Father.
Luke 5:15 “But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.”
He sought solitude on the mountain in Luke 6:12, and He stayed there all night in prayer.
Luke 6:12 “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
In Matthew 14:13, it was reported to Jesus that John the Baptist was beheaded. This had to be a time of sorrow and great uncertainty. Jesus was never fearful, but it was not yet time for Him to go to the cross, so He left the area. He then withdrew Himself from the people and sought a place where there were few people. Again, He sought solitude.
Matthew 14:13 “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
He often withdrew from everyone to be alone to pray. He felt fatigued, loneliness, and pain that any other man would experience. While he was always in communion with the Father, He knew it was necessary to take time to be alone with the Father. He purposed to spend solitude with God. How much more should we seek to be alone with God? In times of stress, pain from the loss of a loved one, or fatigue, it seems easier to run to Him, and we should. However, if we will purpose to find solitude with Him, we won’t feel so desperate in times of distress. Those times of solitude will prepare us for what is coming.
