Solitude: A Vital Factor in Growing Closer to God

I often smile when I read the gospel of Mark. He loved the word immediately. It appears again and again. Mark reminds us that Jesus’s life was packed with people and pressure like you and I have never known. But he also records that “in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there” (Mark 1:35).

Why did He do that? Was He a morning person? Not necessarily. Morning was the only time He could be alone. The next verses say they hunted for Him even then and when they found Him said, “Everyone is looking for You” (1:36-37).

A paraphrase would read “Jesus, You can’t stay out here by Yourself. Man, You’re needed back here!” But Jesus needed the solitude of that early morning talk with His father to filter things out—and my friends, so do we.

Solitude is good for us. Our natural tendency is to always have people around, always have stuff going on, but let me be candid: I’ve never learned anything all that significant in a crowd. I love to be with people, but solitude helps filter out the essentials and sift away the nonessentials. Life kind of makes up its mind in solitude.

If the truth were known, some of you live on the ragged edge because you continually deal with people, demands, expectations, children pulling at you, friends, schedules, and plans. You can’t remember the last time you spent absolutely alone. . . . I know whereof I speak.

Sometimes it’s a motorcycle ride for me. Sometimes it’s a long walk. But I’ll tell you, every time it happens, it’s deliberate. No one has ever said to me, “You need to get alone for a while.” No, this is a choice we all have to make.

I can just hear some of you wondering, “What do I do when I’m alone?”

I have found that one of the best uses of my time in solitude is keeping a journal. Webster’s defines a journal as “a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use.”1 I want you to consider keeping one too. You’ll find it keeps you from losing the best things you gain in your solitude, and that’s what draws you closer to God’s heart.

If you will allow me this final thought: You owe it to God, you owe it to yourself, and you owe it to those you love the most to make solitude a deliberate choice in your life. It’ll take an adjustment to your schedule, but it will make a meaningful difference in your life.

  1. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed. (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1999), see “Journal.”
    Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, “Solitude: A Vital Factor in Growing Closer to God,” Insights (January 2000): 1-2.

Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Posted in Christian Living, Prayer and tagged .

Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading programme in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.

పాస్టర్ చార్లెస్ ఆర్. స్విండాల్ దేవుని వాక్యాన్ని నిర్దిష్టంగా, ఆచరణాత్మకంగా బోధించడానికి మరియు అన్వయించడానికి తన జీవితాన్ని అంకితం చేశారు. ఆయన టెక్సాస్‌లోని ఫ్రిస్కోలోని స్టోన్‌బ్రయర్ కమ్యూనిటీ చర్చి వ్యవస్థాపక కాపరియై ఉన్నారు, అయితే చక్ యొక్క శ్రోతలు స్థానిక సంఘ పరిధి దాటి వ్యాపించి ఉన్నారు. 1979 నుండి క్రైస్తవ ప్రసరణలో ప్రముఖ కార్యక్రమంగా, ఇన్‌సైట్ ఫర్ లివింగ్ ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా ప్రసారమవుతోంది. డల్లాస్ థియోలాజికల్ సెమినరీకి ప్రెసిడెంటుగా, అలాగే ఇప్పుడు ఛాన్సిలర్ ఎమెరిటస్‌గా చక్ యొక్క నాయకత్వం క్రొత్త తరం స్త్రీపురుషులను పరిచర్య కొరకు సిద్ధపరచడంలో సహాయపడింది.