Sadly, this drive to constant movement can also be felt in our spiritual lives. We say things like \u201cidle hands are the devil\u2019s playthings\u201d\u00a0<\/em>or \u201cGod helps those who help themselves.<\/em>\u201d These phrases, which do not occur in scripture, make us believe that spiritual blessings are connected to the amount of work we do or the results we produce. It is but a veiled version of works-based righteousness, and it is disastrous for our spiritual livelihood.<\/p>\n This is not how Jesus lived. Jesus often withdrew himself to lonely places, removing himself from the busyness of his ministry and the frenetic call of crowds. Despite the pressing needs that constantly surrounded him, Jesus often sought times to be alone in solitude and prayer. To put it another way, in a results-oriented world, Jesus wasted his time\u2026a lot.\u00a0<\/p>\n If we wish to live our lives under Jesus\u2019 example, we must also seek times when we step away from the frenzy of our lives so that we can \u201cwaste our time\u201d with Jesus. Wasting our time in this way involves three components.<\/p>\n Jesus was continually bombarded with people seeking miracles, healing<\/a>, and teaching. At times, entire towns descended upon him, longing for his healing touch (Mark 1:33<\/a>). \u00a0At other times, the crowds would anticipate his future location and rush ahead to meet him (Matthew 14:13<\/a>). In his earthly life, Jesus could not escape the constant call to activity.<\/p>\n Yet, Jesus knew that plugging into his life with the Father necessitated the need to unplug from the demands of the world. Thus, Jesus sought out the time and the space conducive to such prayerful attention. \u201cWhen it was morning, while it was still dark, Jesus withdrew to a solitary place\u201d (Mark 1:35<\/a>). The word used for \u201csolitary place\u2019 can also be translated as \u201cwasted place\u201d; it describes a place of no habitation, a place of complete solitude and silence. \u00a0Jesus sought out a place devoid of activity and noise so he could attend to the Father\u2019s presence and voice.<\/p>\n Behind all our faithful activity must be a desire to spend time alone with Jesus. We are to follow Jesus\u2019 example and seek out quiet, lonely, wasted places in our lives. Doing so does not take away from our call to ministry or witness; rather, it enhances it. Our time alone with Jesus directly impacts our ministry in the world. In his book \u201cOut of Solitude,\u201d Henri Nouwen writes, \u201cSomewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning, that without listening, speaking no longer heals, that without distance, closeness cannot occur. Somewhere, we know that without a lonely place, our actions quickly become empty gestures.\u201d \u00a0It is through the discipline of solitude that we grow in our capacity to feel his presence and learn how to identify his words out of the many noises of the world. Times of solitude, therefore, are necessary in our life with God.<\/p>\n Jesus didn\u2019t enter solitude simply to recharge his spiritual battery. \u00a0Jesus sought out solitude and silence to receive instruction and direction regarding his Messianic mission. This is clearly indicated in his conversation with Peter in Mark 1<\/a>. \u00a0After spending the morning in a lonely place, Jesus emerged with clarity as to the direction of his ministry. Amid the pressing demand of \u201cEveryone is looking for you!\u201d, Jesus was sure he must \u201cgo to the surrounding villages\u2026for that is why I have come\u201d (Mark 1:38<\/a>). Jesus often emerged out of his time in wasted places with a sense of clarity or direction. \u00a0<\/p>\n Such clarity brings about calmness and peace into our lives. Jesus was never frantic or worried. His times alone, in the unpopulated, wasted, solitary place, meant he stepped away from all that was frantic or harried and was able to carry peace into the busyness of his ministry. \u00a0<\/p>\n Again, the account in Mark 1<\/a> is a wonderful example of this. In this account, we see an interesting contrast between the serenity and calmness of Jesus and the frenetic anxiousness of Peter. Mark records how Peter and his companions \u201chunted aggressively for him.\u201d They run through the streets and alleys in a panic. All Peter could see was the demand for activity that was literally on their doorstep. Jesus had work to do, and any time not spent in such work was wasted time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jesus, however, carries no franticness. He is calm and reserved, simply declaring the direction the Spirit leads him. Jesus can step away from the call of the crowd to further the will of the Father.<\/p>\n As we live our Christian lives, we may face difficult decisions. Similarly, the weight of all our demands and tasks may weigh heavily on our shoulders. In the face of such things, times of solitude and silence are calming to us. They provide needed relief, direction, and strength<\/a>. The more we spend time with Jesus, in a focused time of prayerful attending, the greater degree of direction we have, and the greater peace we hold as we navigate our life of faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 time in solitude was not a one-time event. Jesus frequently sought out times of solitude. \u00a0For example, Jesus spends time in solitude before he chooses the disciples (Luke 6:12<\/a>); He seeks a lonely place after the disciples return from their first mission (Mark 6:31<\/a>); He spends time praying alone following the feeding of the 5000 (Mark 6:46<\/a>); and seeks time alone in Gethsemane (Matthew26:36). Through the course of his ministry, Jesus frequently engaged in times of solitude.<\/p>\n We can easily fall into the temptation of busyness in our lives. We may tell ourselves that we don\u2019t have the time to cultivate solitude and silence. \u201cThere is too much going on!\u201d we say; \u201cIf I don\u2019t do this, no one else will.\u201d \u201cEveryone is counting on me.\u201d\u00a0<\/em> But is this true? \u00a0After all, as much as we might laud our busyness, don\u2019t we all have time to scroll social media or watch our favorite program? Deep down we all know that, if we truly seek it, we all can find the time necessary to connect with Jesus.<\/p>\n If you want to have a deeper faith, then waste your time with Jesus. Cultivate a habit where He is your focus, where you attend to his presence in silence and solitude. \u00a0Doing so is easier than you might think. You might observe a time of silent prayer for 5 minutes in the morning, Or you could spend time in silence at the end of the day. The great thing about these times of solitude is that we never have to manage it or master it. \u00a0In these wasted places, away from the demand for productivity or efficiency, we simply allow Jesus to do his work in our lives. The more we engage in such time, the more we will find that our connection with Jesus doesn\u2019t just remain in those solitary moments but remains with us constantly. \u00a0<\/p>\n How will you waste time with Jesus this week?<\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a9Getty Images\/Bohdan Bevz<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nEmbracing \u2018Wasted\u2019 Places<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Enjoying the Fruit of Solitude<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cultivating a Regular Habit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"SWN](\"https:\/\/i.swncdn.com\/media\/200w\/via\/21382-kyle-web-1.webp\")
<\/source><\/picture>The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is the Rector of St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. \u00a0He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com,\u00a0crosswalk.com<\/a>,\u00a0ibelieve.com<\/a>, Renovare Canada, and many others. \u00a0He also maintains his own blog\u00a0revkylenorman.ca<\/a>. \u00a0He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n