Take Time to be Lonely

Do you know the feeling of being isolated from others? It can feel scary and challenging. At times like this, we can often feel sorry for ourselves, thinking that everyone else has it better than we do. However, when it comes to dealing with the problems in our lives, the fact that everyone struggles with some kind of sin, and that everyone experiences their own “challenging” event in life, should help us realize we’re not really alone.

What’s the difference between being alone and being lonely? Lonely is generally not considered a good thing, but there is something positive we can learn from being alone that we would probably miss while around other people. Just consider how Luke 5:16 describes Jesus’ normal behavior, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” From 40 days in the wilderness to a couple hours in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus made alone time an important time.

That quiet time in prayer can help you get a better sense of your purpose; it offers you a chance to reflect on your thoughts and actions undisturbed or distracted by life. But many of us fear time alone; we fear that moment of meditation and reflection on ourselves. Perhaps we’re afraid of what we’ll realize about ourselves. David said in Psalms 26:2, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind…”

Jesus wants us to experience the closeness that He had with His Heavenly Father while He was on earth. The difficulty is that many people don’t value aloneness and reflection. In Mark 9 Jesus brought Peter, James, and John “up a high mountain, where they were all alone” (9:2). It’s interesting to see what Jesus wanted them to see up there. Jesus changed during His time on that mountain. While spending time with Moses, the symbol of the Law, and Elijah, the symbol of the prophets, the three men showed their support of Jesus. God voiced His approval and pride in His son as well. What an amazing and powerful experience for them to be part of. How many people would have longed to hear God speak, to see Moses and Elijah.

But they would have missed it had they stayed down in the busy hustle and bustle of everyday life. Perhaps that’s the lesson we learn from this amazing event during Jesus' ministry – take time to be alone, and you may be surprised what God will reveal to you.