A Taste for Solitude

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry.”

Psalm 40:1

The word patiently here actually means intently, and conjures an image of intense focus, elevating a single desire above all others. It’s like the solitude needed by athletes getting ready for the big game. Spiritual leaders train themselves in this discipline, because from it comes the creative juices needed to hatch fresh ideas, and the candor required to lead out of conviction.

If a leader denies the tug of the Spirit for solitude, he forfeits a well-spring of foresight-where God’s leading, insight-how He’s leading, and hindsight-why God’s taking him there. The early church fathers didn’t give over-activity a second thought. When confronted by the church to help with a logistical challenge related to irate widows, they responded, “no” by reiterating their priorities. “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” A “no,” even to very good things, is always the fruit of a stronger “yes.” How strong is your yes to the invitation for solitude?

The great challenge of our day is to exchange fragmented sound bytes and data, with an unbroken stream of mercy gushing like a cataract from above the throne of grace. Solitude helps us taste that river like nothing else will.

If solitude eludes you, try the following, but keep in mind baby-steps that lead to progress are better than bounding gaits ending in failure.

Find a place: Whether it’s a park, an attic or a walk in closet.

Make a space: Long enough to settle; nothing scheduled after, and no chance of interruption.

Breathe grace: Listen for kindness and compassion. If you hear anything to the contrary, though you’re alone, you may not be with Jesus. Remember, we wait intently at the throne of grace.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Ps 34