Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place.
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
I had to start here, with this quote taken from Foster’s book. I had to share this revelation and discovery. Because just being alone and finding silence isn’t enough – that can just lead to loneliness, unhealthy thought patterns or distractions. Likewise, being around people all day, every day because of job/family doesn’t discount the ability to find solitude with God.
One of the things I love about God is how his timing works. Some would call it a coincidence, I choose to see God’s hand behind it. During this period of using Solitude to hunt for more of God, I have found myself in a situation that requires me to need that time alone with God, specifically to listen.
The discipline of solitude reminds me very much of Elijah and God. After Elijah has done and seen amazing things, he finds himself running for his life. He gets so far and can’t go on and says to God “I give up, I don’t want to live.”
So God feeds him, let’s him rest and guides him to a place where he is alone. Then God tells Elijah to watch for him. God sends a mighty wind, an earthquake, and fire. But God himself was not in those powerful forces. No, God was in the gentle whisper that followed.
In Foster’s book he points out that silence is important for practicing solitude, but that can be hard to achieve on a large scale. He talks about taking advantage of the ‘little solitudes’ – sitting in rush hour traffic, a few moments before a meal, upon seeing a flower or tree that catches our attention. Just finding moments as small as these can be used to reorient our lives and point back to God.
Then he talks about larger solitude, 3 or 4 times a year when we can take a few hours out to reorient our goals and inviting God into that.
Of all the disciplines I’ve explored, Solitude has been the one that is most about God and me. It’s been the one about finding comfort and guidance. It’s like a shield to take refuge behind when everyday life is overwhelming and a compass to guide the way for the next step.
Maybe that’s why solitude has struck me so much more than prayer or fasting, or any of the others. The others I all did to some extent before, but solitude I didn’t, or at least not consciously, not through choice. It was a completely new concept to intentionally seek silence to seek God. But it reminds me that it’s never too late to reorient ourselves to God.
Taken a wrong turn, made a wrong decision, wandered in the wrong direction? God is always there waiting to help, wanting to cheer you on and get you back on track. It’s one of those bible promises that is repeated – God will never leave you or forsake you. One of the best known parables is the one about the prodigal son. It follows the lost sheep and the lost coin. In each instance, something that has wandered away or been lost is found, and a party is thrown to celebrate.
OK, solitude and rowdy parties not quite the same, but it reminded me that I will never lose hope in God and his plan because I know that God will never give up on me. And as long as I can make space for God, God has never failed to meet me in that space.
So where ever you are at with God, whether a long term believer or a sceptic or somewhere in between my encouragement is to set aside half an hour with the expectancy of letting God speak to you. He only requires that you be willing to listen.
The Reason for my Hope Blog 