Pathways Press.com

Written by Bill Gaultiere, a contemporary psychologist and spiritual mentor.

Do you ever feel like stopping? Let’s be honest — all the texts, emails, calls, meetings, events, and demands can leave you feeling anxious, exhausted, or disconnected. Even too much of a godly thing (like caring for others) can leave you spiritually drained. Solitude and silence teach us to stop doing, stop producing, stop people-pleasing, stop distracting ourselves, and stop controlling outcomes. Spiritual disciplines of less help Jesus become more in our lives and ministry. It’s how we grow in authentic love for Christ alone and make him the foundation of loving others. Jesus models for us the importance ofgetting alone and getting quiet with Abba… The ultimate fruitfulness of solitude and silence is that these practices empower you to love others. Being with the God of love helps you naturally and organically express his love to those around you.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. [Mark 6:31-32]