The Blessings of Solitude

“I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.”  -Albert Einstein

As a millennial I’m always on the move—attending meetings, completing items on what seems to be a never-ending to-do list—and that’s how I like it.  I consult various political clients, I teach for a college, I lead a non-profit that hosts summits to educate youth on conservative principles, and I sit on advisory boards of a few non-profits.  I’m a doer, and in the past, it’s been hard for me to sit still for too long without going stir crazy.  However, in the wake of this Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic that's affecting the entire world, I’m forced to practice “social distancing” and to spend more alone time than I normally do.  At first, this was a little frustrating for me, however, I recognized that God is wanting to teach me something in this season of solitude and I’ve found silver linings amid all of the chaos that I hope can be beneficial for us to consider. 

One of such is that canceled meetings on our schedules and fewer items on our to-do lists mean that there’s more time to draw nearer to God by prayer and in His Word.  My pastor, Jason Shepperd, said it this way: “This short season could affect the rest of our life.  I don’t want to waste this time and get back to normal.  I want God to do a deep work in my body, soul, and spirit.  I don’t want to get back to normal… I want to get back to better.”  This time alone with God is so important because he can purify our hearts and transform our minds so that we go from living just for the here and now to living for heaven to come.  We can become more peaceful, loving, and generous.  We can also deepen our understanding of God’s Word so that we can more effectively share the gospel with others to bring God glory.

This unprecedented season has also given us time to rest and truly rest.  However, what does it mean to rest exactly?  In Steven Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he tells a story (and I’m paraphrasing) about a man that neglected to sharpen his saw and was busy all day trying to cut down a tree.  Another man asked him, “Why don’t you sharpen your saw?” The man replied, “I don’t have time to sharpen the saw.  I’m too busy sawing.”  Covey quotes Abraham Lincoln who said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend the first four sharpening the axe.”  Covey argues that we should take time to sharpen the metaphorical saw—and these days I presume the term is called “self-care” but I still call it “resting”—and this means taking care of physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional needs that we all have.  For some, resting may mean enjoying a workout, to others reading a good book, or it could be spending quality time with loved ones.  The point is that we should regularly practice habits that sharpen us so that we can be more effective in our work and for whatever God has called us to do.

Maybe if we connected to God and took time to rest in this season of solitude then there’s something new that He will want to do in each of us, and what appears to be an unwanted lull, could actually be opportunities for our greatest junctures of creativity.  When you’re spending time alone with God in prayer ask Him to give you inspired thoughts that are from His heart.  Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (ESV).  I don’t take that to mean that God will give us whatever material thing that we want (a brand new fully loaded pickup truck or a more expensive house), but rather that He can change our desires so that we begin reflecting what He wants for us.  In this case, perhaps God has a new business idea that someone reading this is to pursue or book that you are supposed to write, or maybe this is the right opportunity to go back to school to finish a post-graduate degree, or it’s an opportunity to pick up the phone to mend a broken relationship or begin a new one.  While none of us asked for this season of solitude, God calls us to redeem the time no matter what season we are in.  Therefore, it’s incumbent on us to turn this unwanted lull into a time of spiritual maturation, rest, and personal growth.

“Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16, NIV). 

Wake Up

Hope is the dream of a waking man.

—Aristotle

If you weren’t dreaming already, then you were sleepwalking. You are asleep to the unique talents and abilities God has blessed you with. You have an incredible opportunity since there is only one you in the entire world, and God created you with a purpose in mind. You are here to grow in your talents and abilities so you can glorify Him in the greatest way imaginable. For those awake, I hope you do not allow anyone or any circumstance to send you into hibernation. For those asleep, wake up and start dreaming. 

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Eph. 5:14). 

When the Shoe Doesn’t Fit

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.

—Oprah Winfrey

As the expression goes,“If the shoe fits, wear it.”I was at a sandal shop in Israel, looking to buy a pair. I tried on a sandal on my right foot, and before I could try on the sandal for my left foot, I’d already bought them. Love at first sight, or so I thought! I decided to wear my shoes out of the store, but as I put on the left sandal, I realized it didn’t fit. The more I walked, the more uncomfortable I became. By now, I regretted my impulse purchase. Someone said, “Maybe you just need to wear them in.” I didn’t think so. At first glance, the sandals looked right, and others agreed that the sandals perfectly suited me, but I knew that something just didn’t feel right. Fortunately, the shoes were refundable; however, some life decisions are not. The obvious lesson is this: don’t make impulse purchases. There is, however, a deeper lesson: don’t let others decide what is right for you. When the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t continue to wear it if you don’t have to. 

Then the Lord said to him, “Take off the sandals from your feet” (Acts 7:33 ESV).

Leadership by Empowering Others

Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.

—Henry Ford

Moses had a difficult time being the lone judge of Israel’s court cases. Everybody—and I mean everybody—came to him for everything they had difficulty with. Eventually, judging alone became overwhelming. Moses’s father-in-law told him he couldn’t keep living this way. So his father-in-law organized a management system so all the tasks Moses had done alone would now be delegated to leaders subordinate to him. Arguably, this system saved Israel and freed their leader to do what he was called to do—hear from God and lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land. Likewise, if you want to successfully lead any organization, don’t be the lone ranger that goes it all alone. That is unsustainable. Instead, exercise leadership by empowering others. You will be working with your head and not just your hands, and those following you will appreciate the new responsibility. Your organization will run more effectively.

You should also choose some of the people to be judges and leaders (Exod. 18:2 ERV).

Oh, my bad, bro

 “The world forgetting, by the world forgot.” -Alexander Pope

Ever seen the “Want to get away?” Southwest Airline Commercials?  One day I hung out with a guy who was the epitome cool (all of the ladies loved Wade). A few gals said hello to us and I proceeded to introduce him: “This is my buddy, Graham.”  Fail.  I forgot Wade’s name for what seemed to be ten of the longest seconds ever.  “Oh, my bad, bro.”  Graham was the guy I’d evidently spent too much time doing ministry with, but Wade didn’t know that.  I felt like taking the first flight to Bermuda, and I think Wade would be happy to have seen me leave.  This embarrassing illustration leads me into my Biblical tie-in.  In the world today, people are usually unashamed to talk about “god,” but god is a vague word, especially if and when there are multiple definitions.  Notice that any mention of “Jesus” and their countenance may change because to some “Jesus” is offensive.  Never forget the Name that is above all names: He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  He is God all by Himself.  His name is Jesus.  

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1:15, NLT). 

God’s Favor and Discipline

“We often learn more of God under the rod that strikes us than under the staff that comforts us.” –Stephen Charnock

More times than just once King David veered off the straight and narrow in his life, and God disciplined him for it, but David expressed: “For his anger is but a moment, and his favor lasts a lifetime” (Psalm 30:5).  In other words, David realized it would be much worse had God left him to his vices, but it was because God favored David that He disciplined him. God chooses to discipline the people that He has a purpose for. Though David was not without sin, he had a general pattern of repenting of his sin to continue being obedient to God, thus living in such a way to bring God glory.  It’s no wonder he was known as “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). May we too be people that recognize the favor of God on our lives through His discipline, so that when He does choose to, we immediately correct course to repent and we have a general pattern of living obediently to Him so that He is brought glory. 

For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child (Hebrews 12:6, NLT). 

Vision Beyond

“The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” -James Broughton

Abram lived on his father’s land until he was 75 years old and presumably he would inherit it when his father died.  However, one day God told Abram that he would have to “go” to find the place that He would show him.  Abram’s father’s land was familiar and comfortable, but God wanted to take him to a place that was unknown and outside of his comfort zone.  Even though Abram could not physically see the Promised Land yet because he had never been there and he did not even know which direction to go in, God had opened the eyes his heart to be able to see this vision that He would give Abram.  In summary, he had a vision beyond his comfort zone and beyond what he could see.  Here are two lessons for us.  First, too often we settle for something familiar and comfortable because it is good enough, but like Abram, sometimes we have to be willing to set out on the unknown and outside of our comfort zones if we are going to pursue the greater life God is beckoning us to.  Second, we must have a vision for beyond what we can physically see, trusting God to lead us every step of the way by His Spirit as we pursue the Promised Land that He has called us to. 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).