Life is busy. It doesn’t matter what phase of life you are in, we are in a society that tells us more is better when it comes to our social life. I know that even my days off get scheduled with chores, dinners out and Netflix. It makes me wonder why. We all would probably say we are tired and worn out from the everyday stress of this life even if we are happy and content in our circumstance.
I recently found myself home alone. That is a rare occasion with 5 kids and a full-time job. At first, I felt a little lonely. I started tackling some things around the house that had been on my list, but then I just sat back and listened to the quiet. I heard birds chirping and the peepers in my pond next to our house. For a minute life got so simple. I began to pray, meditated on scripture and drew close to God in a way my soul desperately needed. He met me in a very sweet moment that day and refreshed my weary heart.
It reminded me of why Jesus often escaped to find solitude with His Father away from all the noise and all the people, even his disciples that he loved so dearly.
Luke 6:12 is just one of many examples of this. “He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”
How can you find solitude amid a busy life?
Create Margin – Finding a way to put space on the schedule allows you to build time in your day and weeks that will fill your soul. This allows sacred time with our Savior, an act of worship that we were designed to do.
Say no – This one is hard for me. I always feel like I am letting someone down when I turn down an invite or volunteer opportunity. But if your life is so full that you are finding it hard to create space, the art of saying no is important. I promise it does get easier as you go!
Make a space – I have a friend that will just drive to the beach to get these quiet moments with Jesus. Maybe that’s not feasible, but you can create a cozy haven at your house away from the noise. A car ride. Whatever you can cultivate to create time to hear God away from the distractions, I encourage you to do it!
Brene Brown says, “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is a status symbol.” Let our lives be different. Let’s not live exhausted. We are made to have full hearts and minds free to worship and serve God. May our times of solitude draw us even nearer to Christ, so we desire Him in ways we never have before.
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Susan Veenema and her husband, Jeremy, love exploring Chester County with their two older biological daughters and three adopted children. Susan has been in education for almost 20 years supporting children with disabilities and their families. She currently works at the Department of Education. One of her greatest joys is leading Thursday night women's Bible study and her couples community group. People are her passion. She loves to read, write and study everything from history to social sciences to the early church. You'll always find her trusty German Shorthaired Pointer by her side.