A Little Time Away

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The first computer that we bought had a screen saver on it with a man on a little island surrounded by water. At first glance it looked like a nice little get away. This man would walk around the island. Sometimes it looked like he was trying to re-build his raft. Other times he was fishing, or reading...or climbing up the one coconut tree to taste of its fruit. My husband, Ken, would wake up in the middle of the night, go to get something to drink...and check to see what the man on the island was up to! Not too long ago, out of the blue, Ken said "I miss that little guy on the island."

Some days it might feel appealing to be stranded on a little island in the middle of nowhere but we weren't designed for long-term living like that. Isolation is a dangerous place to go to and to stay in. Being separated. Not connected to other people isn't healthy for us. But there is a purposeful activity of getting alone that's good for us and we should all make time to do it. In fact, Jesus gave us that example several times in the New Testament. Matthew 14: 13  (NLT) tells us, "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."

The activity is not isolation. It's solitude. Oh, it's still a time of getting alone or apart from others. But the biggest difference between isolation and solitude, I believe, is found in our mind and in our heart. Solitude is a healing place where God can reach us and help us all the more because we're alone with Him. What I love about Jesus solitary time away with His Father, aside from setting the perfect example for us, is that it directly preceded one of the greatest stories and miracles of Jesus' ministry...feeding more than 5,000 people with two fish and 5 loaves of bread. There's a benefit and a reward for making space for solitude in our lives. Jesus showed us that it's important.

Getting alone with God. Solitude. Psalm 62:1-2 (AMPC) reminds us of its benefits. "FOR GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved."

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

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