June 8: Insight Post by Kim Feld
Monday Insight Post
by Kim Feld
I mentioned guidance as an important result of solitude in my post last week. This week’s passages and prompts highlight another result: clarity. When I am trying to process situations, especially difficult ones, I often need time alone with God. I have great, trusted friends who serve as advisors in my life, but they can’t replace time spent in prayer, nor would they want to.
I am fascinated by Jesus. Even in His humanity, He didn’t allow struggles to throw Him off track. When He was followed by huge crowds, He didn’t allow them to deter Him from what God wanted. His decisions were based on God’s will, not on popularity or people-pleasing. He saw the enormity of His job, but He didn’t shortchange His time with God because He was busy. I am so convicted by all this.
Jesus needed clarity, and He knew that He could only get it from His connection with God. The same should be true for you and me. I desperately need the kind of clarity that only comes from being with God through prayer and studying His word. Yet, my busyness (even busyness for God!) is my biggest distraction and obstacle to clarity. Jesus prioritized solitude, and if I want to model my life after His, I should make it a priority too.
Take a look at Matthew 6:6 from The Message:
“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
Jesus is speaking in this verse and setting the stage for His teaching on the Lord’s Prayer. I love the connection He makes between quiet, solitude, and letting go of role-playing. There’s no one to play to when you are alone, and honestly, I think that’s why it’s so hard. Solitude strips away the façade we may wear with others. When it’s just Jesus and me, it’s hard to hide and be anyone other than exactly who I am. But the really beautiful thing is that’s exactly how He wants me.
It is not easy to be alone with your thoughts. Some go to great lengths to avoid solitude, but we do so to our own detriment. We were created to be in communion with God. He alone can fill us completely and give us the kind of clarity that allows us to become all He created us to be.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
newhope.org