Solitude

When I originally started taking retreats alone it started out with the purpose of getting away from all that I was overwhelmed by, to rejuvenate, only to come back to all that I was overwhelmed by, to then need another retreat. Slowly but surely, God has helped me to release each one of those overwhelming things into His hands and subsequently my retreats have taken on a whole new purpose and depth. When we take the time to remove noise, distraction, and the normal things of everyday life it allows us to listen to God at a deeper level, a level that brings healing and strength. The healing brings freedom and rest on the inside that steadily continues even when every day life gets crazy on the outside.

I’ve heard it said that in silence, we are just a soul in God’s presence. I love that. Without that, we can be operating in a false reality. We accomplish much, distract ourselves with much, fill our lives with much and the whole time we are completely unaware that we need to be healed from the pain that lurks beneath the surface. Operating our lives from a place of pain only brings more pain in our lives and in the lives of those that we love. Too many of us are choosing the “easier” path, to fill our lives with things and be distracted from the pain. Going into God’s presence in silence allows for Him to do the healing work in us that in the long run brings that constant freedom and rest on the inside.

When is your next retreat? When is your daily time of solitude? No time for it? Making the time for it will change your life!