Strength in Solitude
You’ve heard of strength in numbers, but I’m guessing you haven’t heard of strength in solitude. Even the phrase itself probably sounds strange at first glance. We love to talk about how we’re better together, and we’re quick to call out the cliched truth that there is no “I” in team.
While this might be true, and while there’s certainly something powerful that happens when people come together and rally around a shared goal or cause, we can’t ignore the importance of spending time alone. Last week, we began our newest series on Leadership Beyond Limitations. My goal in this series is to share valuable insights and practical wisdom about the steps we can take to maximize our impact and contribute at the highest level.
When I think about practices that are essential for my longevity and well-being in leadership, spending time alone is always one of the first concepts that comes to mind. Leadership is incredibly fulfilling, but it’s also highly draining. I must be intentional about taking time away to rest and recharge if I want to continue leading and contributing at a high level. It’s not something that happens accidentally – it must be something I make an effort to prioritize.
If you need further evidence of the importance of solitude, look no further than Jesus’ example throughout the Gospels:
- “As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.” – Matthew 14:13, NLT
- “After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.” – Matthew 14:23, NLT
- “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” – Mark 1:35, NLT
- “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” – Luke 5:16, NLT
- “They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.”” – Mark 14:32, NLT
In each of these examples, you’ll notice that Jesus wasn’t just going to be alone for the sake of being away from other people. His specific purpose was to spend time in prayer. His desire was to connect with God, and He knew this would be easier to do away from the distractions often found in large crowds and around other people.
This certainly isn’t to say that being around people is a bad thing. God made us to love others and to live in relationships. However, there comes a time when we all must retreat to refill our own cups. Just like you can’t pour from an empty vessel, you can’t support and strengthen others unless you have something within yourself to offer.
Let me challenge you this week to proactively find time to spend in solitude. You can use this time for prayer, Scripture reading, reflection, or journaling. I would argue that some combination of all four of those examples will be the most helpful. Try to eliminate as many distractions as possible. This may require you to wake up earlier than you would like or leave your phone in another room.
It might feel slightly uncomfortable or awkward at first, but over time and through practice and repetition, you’ll recognize the tremendous benefit this discipline can offer you, both for your relationship with God and for your overall health and well-being.