“Solitude with God repairs the damage done by the fret and noise and clamor of the world.”
Oswald Chambers
Sitting still and listening to God’s voice is one of the most life-giving practices. It is in the solitude and silence that I am known, loved, and accepted by God, thus deepening my intimacy with Him. Choosing and surrendering to that stillness did not happen overnight. It was a process to learn and be trained in, one that I’m still learning. It comes with a cost that has been well worth any sacrifice. The enemy of our soul comes to rob, steal, and destroy and that is why he pulls out the stops to get us to shun solitude and silence.
One reason I used to avoid sitting still with the Lord was because it highlighted my deep-seated sense of loneliness. Yet, over time, that same loneliness disappeared because God filled me with His friendship and companionship.
In the past, I kept my mind busy listening to music or podcasts to prevent feeling my emotional hurt. Busyness numbs and distracts us from the pain of woundedness. In silence, we come face-to-face with what is in our hearts. Solitude is the healing ointment Jesus applies to heal our hurts. Getting alone with God in quietness is the perfect opportunity to pour out our hearts to God, where we discover His unconditional love.
If there’s sin in my heart, a breach in my relationship with God, or having inaccurate perceptions of God, I am more apt to reject silence and solitude because I fear being alone with God. Sitting still in God’s presence exposes my shame and weaknesses. The enemy’s ploy is to rob from us the healing that takes place through repentance and letting God see us and accept us as we are.
The more I intentionally surrender to obeying God’s command to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a), the more my heart is healed, and my loneliness vanishes. The more comfortable I became with my vulnerability with God, the more comfortable I became with being myself. The more content with who I am, the less need I have for noise and activity.
Solitude and silence are the entryways into emotional wholeness and wholehearted devotion to God. Do your soul a favor and take time practicing stillness in God’s presence.
“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness. You will find yourself, and God will find you in new ways. Silence also brings Sabbath to you.”
Dallas Willard
Relevant Reflections:
Why do you shun solitude and silence?
Spend five minutes sitting still and being alone with God.
Image by Franz Bachinger from Pixabay
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