Silence and Solitude Part 3

Please refer back to Part 1 before you go on to read this section.

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Part 3


Understanding Silence and Solitude


Silence and solitude is fasting from people and noise for a prescribed time to connect with God and replenish the soul. The opposite of solitude is isolation, where someone is burned out and goes into survival mode by disappearing. Solitude is goldy, isolation is deadly, and if we don't enjoy the former we'll wind up pursuing the latter.


Despite the constant pressures upon his time from family, friends, and fans, Jesus' own life was marked by ongoing times of solitude. The following verses speak of how Jesus often pracited the spititual disciplne of solitude:

• "And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone." (Matt. 14:23)
• "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." (Mark 6:31)
• "And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place." (Luke 4:42)
• "But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray." (Luke 5:16)

Furthermore, as we study Scripture we see that Jesus used solitude for a multitude of purposes. Following his baptism, Jesus spent forty days in solitude preparing for his public ministry (Matt. 4:1-11). After his cousin, John the Baptizer, was beheaded, Jesus spent time alone to mourn (Matt. 14:12-13). Jesus also used times of solitude as occasions for intense and focused prayer (Matt. 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). Jesus specifically used solitude as an opportunity to pray and seek the Father's will before choosing the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12). In addition, Jesus used solitude to rest after a hard day of work (Mark 6:31). Finally, knowing he was soon to be crucified, Jesus spent time alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, coming to grips with the painful obedience that was required of him (Mark 26:36-46 [It is actually Matt. 26:36-46]).


Other biblical figures also used solitude for a litany of purposes. Moses spent time alone on the mountain with God in order to receive a word from God, namely the ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20). Isaiah was both saved and sustained by God through his times of solitude with the Lord (Isa. 30:15) In Psalm 62:1-2, 5 David says that in solitude God calmed his fears and encouraged this soul. Paul as well spent some three years in varying degrees of solitude being prepared by the Lord for ministry, according to Galatians 1:17-19.


Clearly, time alone with God serves innumerable good purposes in our lives. Therefore, to help you consider how to enjoy purposeful times of solitude, I would encourage the following. One, you may need to simply schedule a day of solitude to ensure that this is a regular part of your spiritual life. I do this at least one day a month and find it to be the most important and refreshing part of my life; it enables me to function in the other areas of my life because it helps me remain continually connected to Jesus. Two, find a place where you like to go. This may mean that  you spend a day in God's creation hiking or simply resting. Three, if you  are a parent, this may mean that you have to get up early or stay up late to get some time to yourself at home.


There are many things you can do during your periods of solitude, including:

1. Nothing
2. Meditate on a short section of Scripture
3. Rest
4. Read long sections of Scripture
5. Pray, including a prayer-walk/hike/bike
6. Read a good book
7. Journal

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Wow, the first part was very much more relevant to me this time around that when I first read these. I have to admit and repent of yesterday. It seems like the whole day was a waste. I was lazy all day long. I got up and I was lazy. I sat around and played games on my computer from the time I got up to the time I had to head out, which was utterly lazy. At work, I was lazy and didn't really want to do things very well or to the glory of God. I didn't want to do anything to the best ability that I could. Small insignificant things would irritate me because it meant that I had to work harder. I just wanted to be lazy. Even after work, I had seen that I was completely lazy about it and I was still lazy after work. I did nothing productive at all. I probably could come up with many different verses about not being lazy. Here is one that I have memorized because of the things I do in ministry. Proverbs 22:29, "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." Be excellent at what you do, and don't be lazy about it! I think I was searching for isolation as I didn't want to do anything with anyone. And that is not me at all, I thrive off of other people.



As this is something that I have never really studied, seeing Jesus and all these different people in the Bible has a different impact now that I read them again. I can see that they thrived off of their times with God. They were rejuvenated and as David says, he put his hope in the Lord. I don't think that I do that very often. Most times I try and do this silence and solitude thing, I am looking forward to hanging out with people again. I need to change in how I think about these times. They are a time to seek God and to put my hope in him.


I would be careful about some of the things that Mark says you can do. I would abstain from doing nothing. I can't remember or find the exact verse but I believe that it says something to the extent of, idle hands brings about sin. So I would be careful to do nothing. I did that yesterday and it did not bring about any good. I would be careful of what you think rest is as well. Often times I rest by doing nothing, or by sleeping for longer than I should, or even by hanging out with people when I should be off by myself. Make sure you rest in God and not in things of this world.