June 5: Insight Post by Bret Burzio
Friday Insight Post
by J. Bret Burzio, Sr.
I’m going to be completely honest with you. I have a complicated relationship with solitude. I see and appreciate all the times Jesus went out by Himself to solitary places to pray, and the wisdom therein. I see all the times throughout God’s word when He takes His people out into the wilderness for fellowship. I think of David as a shepherd, Elijah on Mt. Sinai, Moses at the burning bush, Hagar by the spring, and John the Baptist in the wilderness. And I have even experienced tremendously rich times of fellowship with Him in times when I got away from the hustle and bustle.
But I have also experienced times in my life where I sought out solitude not for relationship but to run away. I desired it in ways that were not healthy or God-honoring. Simply put, I can deeply empathize with the pre-fish Jonah. There have been times in my life when I seriously questioned whether I should drive out into the mountains because I thought I might not ever want to come back! In those times, I now realize I felt that way because I was not holding onto my Lord and Savior first. I was not trusting in His provision. I was not running into His lovingly outstretched arms. I was running away in fear.
So, I am looking forward to diving into this month’s focus on the Biblical benefits of solitude with open eyes and open ears. I want to learn all about the beautiful and wise ways we can fellowship with God through times of solitude. My heart just grew when I was reading this week’s verses in Exodus 33:7, 11 about Moses’ practice of setting up the Tent of Meeting, “some distance from the camp” and that, “the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” I don’t know about you, but when I consider the truth that Jesus Christ is not only our Lord and Savior but our friend as well… I get goosebumps!
I hope you’ll join us this month while we explore this principle of solitude. He is our friend and He desires to spend time with us and to bless us in the stillness.
J. Bret Burzio, Sr.
Executive Administrator
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
newhope.org