Seeking Silence & Solitude

October 6, 2021

Through the years, my longing to be close to God has led me to search for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. I’d read the Scriptures because I was instructed to do so through Bible study, but I still felt something missing in my heart. What was it? Why, after reading Scripture, did I not feel close to God? This stirred in my heart for years. Attending church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening or Wednesday evening also didn’t draw me closer to God in a relational sense. Even though being in community and attending church is a vital part of spiritual growth, something was still missing.

Finally, after multiple conversations with friends, I realized what was wrong: I didn’t really know how to be alone with God. In all my years of going to church, I was never taught how to spend time with God in silence and solitude – or how important that can be. Pastors and teachers have a special gift, but solitude isn’t a common topic for sermons or Sunday school lessons. And for obvious reasons, church isn’t normally a place where it can be practiced either. But quiet time alone with God can help restore the soul, transform the heart, shed light on hidden sin, bring about repentance and increase intimacy with the Heavenly Father. As a result of all this, the Holy Spirit’s work can be accomplished more abundantly.

One evening, I was sitting on my couch feeling defeated from the day. Everyone in my house was asleep. I just sat, asking questions and trying to process my emptiness. Why does my spirit feel wrecked? I’m a follower of Christ; so why do I feel so disconnected from God? I listened to a sermon, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. The disconnected, wrecked longing I felt was a result of not spending time with God. Without abiding with Him in silence and solitude, I wasn’t giving God a chance to cut through all the junk and work on my heart.

All of us have daily rhythms, or ways that we pattern our days. Spiritual rhythms are similar. They are intentional patterns we place into our life in order to experience God’s love firsthand. Through my experience that night, I began to discover that spiritual rhythms can bring about renewal and transformation. 

When we read through scripture, Jesus modeled for us the importance of being alone with God.

“After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.”
Matthew 14:23

The Gospel of Mark describes a similar scene:

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out and made his way to a deserted place, and there he was praying.”
Mark 1:35-36

We can get caught up in the busy nature of the world, but Jesus wants us to first be with Him. 

We live in a broken world. That’s evident every day. To share the gospel and love others, we must learn to be with Jesus. Silence and solitude allow the Spirit to bring restoration to your soul and share what He is doing in your heart. 

I’ve been actively practicing the rhythm of solitude and silence in my life for more than a year now. If you’re sensing something is missing spiritually, ask if you have prioritized cutting out the distractions, sitting in silence, and allowing God to lead your time together.

Our world doesn’t allow for silence. We are inundated with notifications, news, and media everywhere we look. We have actually become addicted to the static, and it can feel impossible to escape. For some, sitting in silence can be vulnerable or even uncomfortable. It may make us feel out of control. However, Psalm 37:7 tells us, “Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him.” 

In the intentional silence, He meets us were we are and reminds us of who He is. Time spent with God creates room for the Holy Spirit to examine us, refresh us, and reveal to us how deeply loved we are - it is there where true relationship grows.

Practice

Find a place that feels comfortable and safe to you, a place that allows you to be open and available to God. It could be a favorite room or backyard. Remove digital distractions. Settle in where you feel comfortable, and becoming aware of God’s presence with you and your desire to be present with God. Sit quietly and don’t rush or try to make anything happen. Let your soul cry out. What emotion are you feeling? Grief, joy, heartache, frustration, shame? Don’t be afraid of your emotions and present them before God. Pray, listen, repent, and petition.

Practice entering solitude regularly until it becomes routine to let your soul rest in God’s presence.