The Blessings of Solitude and Silence

Photo Credit: Mike Harding

by Katie Harding on July 8, 2024

When my husband and I were first married (many moons ago), and his ship was underway, whether a day, a week or even six months, I always kept the television or radio blaring for background noise, even if I was reading. I grew up in a home with two adults and nine children, so although I greatly enjoyed the solitude, having silence was unnerving; I needed the noise.

Over time, however, my need for constant noise has waned. I have come to appreciate the silence, especially in my time of solitude. It’s in the silence where I can be one with my thoughts and spend time reflecting and wondering. It’s in the silence where I can hear God’s truths and dispel the lies of the enemy, and it’s in the silence where I can commune with Jesus, listening to His Words and discerning His ways.

Jesus often went off by Himself to deserted places, which meant He desired not only silence but solitude as well. He, too, needed a time and place to be alone — a time to prepare for some of His most important work. He clarified His purpose, reflected on His team, reviewed the places He needed to visit, and solidified His plans. Even when He needed to grieve loss, silence, and solitude is where He went. It gave Him the time He needed to commune with His Father.

Solitude and silence can look different for each of us. For some, it can be a walk in the woods surrounded by nature or on a dirt path going for a run. For others, it can be a long bike ride in the country or a walk around the neighborhood. For me, it is sitting in a chair by the window with a Bible in my lap and pencil in hand, gazing at the trees. Although the method for this discipline may look different, the purpose of silence and solitude is always the same. It is an opportunity to feed our soul, and there is nothing more soul-nourishing than being with the Lord.

As we learn how to become like Jesus, let us put into practice the things Jesus did, and let us begin with taking time for solitude and silence. May it be a time to open our hearts to the ongoing work of God’s Spirit, while deepening our intimacy with Jesus and learning to just be.

Let us know how you practice the discipline of solitude and silence.