“We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy.” – C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory, “We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy, and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.” Most of us have grown accustomed to what truly does amount to being “starved” for solitude. We are bombarded by so much noise that solitude is a scarce commodity, and we can’t find enough time to be with our Creator.
Solitude is a spiritual practice. Solitude can seem a little esoteric, or it may just be that many people are simply out of practice with being alone and quiet, both with themselves and with God. However, solitude is essential for maintaining mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
We need solitude for one reason—Jesus needed it. Throughout the New Testament, numerous examples of Jesus going off by Himself to pray are found. Jesus began His ministry with solitude (Matthew 4:1-11). After a long day of ministry, “he went up into the hills by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23). Before the cross, Jesus goes to Gethsemane with His disciples and says, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” (Matthew 26:36). Mark 1:35, tells us “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”
Jesus, who practiced perfect communion with His heavenly Father while here on earth, still needed to spend time in solitude. Jesus, who was God and man simultaneously, needed time alone. When Jesus was facing His crucifixion, He spent time alone in the Garden of Gethsemane in conversation with His heavenly Father. Solitude is one of the most important and life-giving spiritual disciplines. If we want to hear God, we must practice solitude.
So, how can you practice solitude effectively? First, we need a place where we can spend time with God free from distractions or interruptions. Then, set aside a specific amount of time to spend with God in silence and solitude. It could be two minutes or an hour. Connecting with God in solitude is crucial for spiritual growth, offering a space for introspection, healing, and a deeper understanding of God’s love and purpose. It allows for a quiet contemplation of one’s own life, the nature of God, and one’s place in His story, fostering intimacy and clarity in God’s presence.
The goal of practicing the discipline of solitude is to engage in an extended conversation with God about your life, your relationship with Him, and His perspective on your life together. Your practice is to remove as many distractions as possible so you can give God your undivided attention.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “There is a wonderful power of clarification, purification, and concentration upon the essential thing in being quiet.”
Discussion Questions:
- What is your current experience with solitude? Do you intentionally seek it out, or do you tend to avoid it?
- What are some of the biggest distractions that keep you from experiencing silence and solitude?
- How did Jesus model the practice of solitude, and how can His example shape our pursuit of time alone with God?