In 2016, the Surgeon General of the United States stated that the greatest threat to health was not cancer, heart disease, diabetes or any other physical ailment. Several countries, because of this epidemic problem, have even created a new position to address this — Minister of Isolation. Please realize that all of this is pre-COVID and not a knee-jerk reaction to the pandemic. Compared to other segments of people groups here in America, our veterans, unfortunately, have a very high suicide rate. A big part of this tragedy is how hard it is to come home from a war situation and have someone you can talk to and relate with.
Depression is real and should not be ignored. You see a depressed prophet, Elijah, in I Kings 19 who was very isolated from God. Yet, in I Kings 17, he actually experienced solitude with God. One author describes it as being, “divinely sustained with water from a brook and food brought by ravens during a drought. The location and the sustenance were all given by God. This is what we would call solitude. Solitude can be defined as an intentional separation for the refining of our soul. This is us running to God.” Three necessary ingredients to remain in an intimate relationship with Christ are stillness, silence and solitude.
Solitude is necessary because we tend to substitute intimacy with God with busyness for God. The most important things found in solitude are the provision and presence of God! Notice that the brook dried up… solitude is temporary, and is intended for us to find strength and direction to move on in obedience… not stay forever. This principle is illustrated well in Psalm 119:34. Adoration is necessary, and it leads to godly action in your life.
Bill Gaultiere said, “The priority of Jesus’ solitude and silence is everywhere in the Gospels. It’s how He began His ministry. It’s how He made important decisions. It’s how He dealt with troubling emotions like grief. It’s how He dealt with the constant demands of His ministry and cared for His soul. It’s how He taught His disciples. It’s how He prepared for important ministry events. It’s how He prepared for His death on the cross.” Take a look at Jesus’ life and you will see an intentional commitment to solitude. Henry Nouwen said solitude, “is also the place of purification and transformation.”
Mark 1:35 is a prime example, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” In this passage, you clearly see the three necessary ingredients for intimacy with Christ — stillness, silence and solitude. Solitude is required to ensure that you are in step with where God is leading and in what He is directing you to do. Henry Blackaby states, “More than any other single thing leaders do, it is their prayer life that determines their effectiveness.” Jeremiah 33:3 tells us to call on Him and He will tell us great and mighty things that we do not know. Prayer is essential!
Where will you find your “desert” place to withdraw to the stillness, silence and solitude so you can hear His voice more clearly? You need to discover His presence and His gentle touch as He ministers to you in your solitude just as He did Elijah in I Kings 17. Do not strive to find the solitude of others but rather settle for nothing less than your own intimate encounter with Christ as the Psalmist mentions in Psalm 42:5. He admonishes us to place our hope in God “for the help of His countenance.” Psalm 42:11 shows us that by looking into His countenance He is the health of our countenance. Look to Him to look like Him.
Solitude is distinctly different from isolation where you think you are all alone and no one really cares about you or your struggles. Isolation is what you begin to crave when you neglect biblically-inspired solitude. Isolation is running from God. Here are four lies the enemy wants you to believe when feeling isolated:
• I am the only one.
• Nobody understands.
• There is no hope.
• God cannot resolve this.
In God-Initiated Leadership, Bill Elliff pointed out, “Elijah is a study in the dynamics of ministry depression. Sadly, he gives us many clues on what not to do.” Yes, it is just as important to know what not to do as what you should do.
Bill gave us four don’ts to consider when feeling isolated:
• Don’t be unaware of vulnerable seasons
• Don’t run from your accusers or from God.
• Don’t wallow in self-pity or justification.
• Don’t believe the enemy’s lie that you are alone.
Why stillness, silence and solitude? To stop, rest, delight in the Lord, and contemplate what He is doing in your life at this very moment. Bill said this about Elijah, “He (God) was there, and He was not silent. If we are depressed and fearful, one key is to stop (emphasis added), lay aside our fear-laced thinking and listen to God. He will meet you where you are.”
Solitude is running to Jesus and isolation is running from Jesus. Which direction are you headed?
