The Lonely Place

Today during my quiet time my heart came to rest on Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

I closed my eyes and my heart could see the scene. The verses before paint a picture of ministry in full swing as we see Jesus teaching, touching the unclean, healing the sick, strengthening the weak, the walking wounded, the dying, the tired. News about Him spread like wildfire and crowds came. They wanted to be near Him. They wanted to touch Him. But Jesus withdrew to the lonely place to have a conversation with His Father – to pray.

I recently began a study called Passionate Prayer written by my friend Catherine Martin. I had read the book last summer and enjoyed it immensely. A few days ago I saw a post from her on Facebook inviting people to engage in the study of Passionate Prayer online. I decided to sign up. As I began the study I realized how hungry I was for conversation with the Lord. Life is moving at breakneck speed and ministry never stops. My prayer life had become a series of quick pleas for help and strength instead of intimate heart-to-heart conversation that poured from my heart to the One who had pursued me through my dark night of the soul and set my feet on the rock.

Reading Passionate Prayer caused my heart to burn with the desire to slow down. I realized I had a deep longing for the lonely place; the place away from the crowd and the noise of the world: a place where I can hear the very heartbeat of the Father. I didn’t need to call the airline or book an island getaway. All I had to do was choose to step away from the busyness. I needed to withdraw to the lonely place like Jesus did and talk with my heavenly Father. My heart needed to sit with Him without seeking a new story to write or a mountain top experience. I needed to talk with Him. To tell Him I love Him. To listen to His gentle whisper thunder through my soul.

Most of us think of the lonely place as negative. I know people who go to great lengths to avoid being alone. They pack their days with “good” things that fill every moment. Oh but Jesus often withdrew to the lonely place to talk with His Father and we are to imitate Jesus.

This morning as the moon poured its soft light over the desert, I found myself walking the familiar path that winds through all the towering tasks and the needs and expectations of others and then the Well came into view and seated there was the One my soul loves. And my heart ran to meet Him there and we had a long heart to heart conversation there in the lonely place.

Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:15-16