Strength in Solitude
In keeping with my quest to spend time in God’s creation by visiting the national parks, I am using a devotional, The Mountains are Calling – 90 Devotions for Peace and Solitude, published by Dayspring. And I’m journaling my thoughts. I’ve never been much of a journaler. As this is a new and uncertain season for me (retirement), I thought journaling might make some of the thoughts stay instead of being in and out of my head quickly. Not sure that’s working. I probably need to reread my thoughts a time or two. I’ve told a friend that I need to hear a story at least twice before I remember it and it is the same with sermons, movies, things I read, etc. It frustrates me sometimes that things don’t stick in my head. People talk about things they heard in a sermon and what they learned from it; I never remember the sermon after I walk out the door (sorry Pastor). I digress.
On occasion, I will set aside time to be in solitude and I prefer to do that in nature somewhere. You would think that time in the car with my travels would be a good time to spend in solitude with God but, I seem to avoid that with music, listening to audiobooks, etc. Some of the time, I will drive in silence and pray, listen or praise but, most of the time I try to occupy my mind. I start listening to an audiobook and can’t “put it down” and its due back to the library and I need to finish it by the end of the trip and…..
Today’s devotion was Strength in Solitude and there were some things that stood out to me:
- · “The mountain maker is our source of strength. Wow! There’s nothing too hard for Him and no one more important to Him than you.” I know that God is my source of strength and power but do I believe it? Do I tap into it when I need it? Am I really that important to Him? Of course, I know that I am but, do I really believe it? Or act like I believe it?
- · “Where we go to find quiet time is different for each of us, but it’s hard to appreciate quiet time if we’re not alone.” For me, if I want real solitude, I want to be outside with the sun on my face, a breeze and moving water. That’s a little hard in the winter and often hard to find any time of the year. It takes intentionality. I can compromise on the environment and still find solitude. But, again, it takes intentionality. I’m in a Bible study with some young moms. I am amazed by the spiritual maturity they show and their connection to God and how they model that to their children. How do they find the time? I couldn’t even consider doing a Bible study when I was working because I couldn’t devote the time needed to work through the study. How could these young moms ever find the time for solitude?
- · “Solitude is imperative to staying grounded in our wonderfully unique and powerful purpose.” Okay, so…..I know I am unique, even odd or eccentric to some. But “wonderfully” unique? And “powerful purpose”? Most of the time I don’t know my purpose, especially in this season of retirement. What does God want me to do with this season? I guess I need more solitude. 😊
- · “Our lives are meaningful every day. God loves us and He loves the life He has given us. His greatest joy is seeing us live the abundant life found in Him. In Him we have mountain-making strength and mountain- moving hope.” When I first read that, I thought, “He loves the life He has given us”? Some of the time I don’t love the life He has given me. I want something other than what He has given me. That thought is based on the day-to-day circumstances and experiences of my life. When I went on to read the rest, I realized that the author is talking about the abundant life God has given us in Him; a life that is so much more than my day-to-day circumstances or experiences, a life that is based on His love for me and eternity with Him, a life that is filled with His faithfulness/joy/power/strength/hope, a life with purpose, etc. That gives our lives meaning every day!
- · “Good is going to come from everything we surrender to Him. Hope is going to stand against anything that tries to diminish it.” I often fail to see the good that comes from things that I surrender to Him. That’s because I’m not looking for it. I’m so focused on whatever I have surrendered and the pain it causes that I can’t see the good. I need to take my eyes off of me and put them on Him and see the good. It is hope that keeps us going when life seems hard. Hope in this sense is a certainty, not wishful thinking. It is the expectation of the fulfillment of our life in Christ – eternity with Him. It is future focused and not focused on today. Our use of the word hope is often about what we want/wish to happen in relation to our circumstances. We should be trusting God, not hoping.
More solitude. More listening. More praying. I have no excuse for not setting aside time for those things now that my life is not constrained by work and time. With the warmer weather and more daylight at the end of the day (interesting that I don’t mind this time change nearly as much since I don’t have to get up for work in the dark), being outside is easier and I will be more intentional about solitude. If you’re brave, ask me if I am. 😊
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
