By: Samantha Scarpa
“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.”
Genesis 2:2-3
Jehovah Shalom, Our God Is Peace
The spiritual discipline of solitude doesn’t come naturally, but it is one of the most important elements of abiding in the Lord. Our flesh often wants to fill our time with busyness and lead to a life distracted instead of a life tethered to Jesus. Learning to embrace each season and learning the rhythms of solitude requires sacrifice of control and self.
How do we practically live out this rhythm of solitude in our everyday life? By placing our feet on the firm foundation of Christ and putting on God’s peace as shoes for our feet. This is often learned through our weaknesses. God’s love is made perfect in our weakness, and actually magnifies the Lord and His character. It reveals how much we lack apart from God, and how much we need Him. Identify your weaknesses and invite God in to transform your heart. He is the source of life, the living water to satisfy our soul. He is our shalom. Sometimes it takes us being broken down for God to build us back up. Genesis 2:2-3 says, “On the seventh day God completed his work that he has done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.” This is one of the Ten Commandments. Even the Creator of the universe chose to rest and made this day holy.
This reveals the very nature of our God, who values rest and the ability to enjoy all that He created. Exodus 35:1-3 says, “Moses assembled the entire Israelite community and said to them, ‘These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do. For six days work is to be done, but on the seventh day, you are to have a holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Anyone who does work on it must be executed. Do not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day.’” God gave Moses clear and direct instructions to walk in His ways. The Israelites were led through the wilderness by Moses whom God called. Did you know you have been chosen and called by the living God to live from a place of solitude? When we learn to surrender and walk in His ways, solitude begins to unlock the great peace of God. This great peace will overflow into all areas of our lives.
Through every valley and every mountain, there is a lesson to be learned. In my journey of solitude, I have learned to document my experiences in the valleys and the mountains by writing in my gratitude journal to document my prayers, weaknesses and challenges, and by praying daily. It also required me to say “no” to certain opportunities, redeeming my time and gaining margins of rest throughout the process. This discipline started with small steps of obedience. The more I incorporated it into my daily life, the more I experienced the great fruit God wanted to produce in my life. Learning to live a life tethered to Jesus will require us to walk through many valleys and mountains. Wherever you find yourself in this season of life, it is not too late to start. You are not forgotten or too far behind. This may be the day you choose to take the next step—a step of faith in your career, your family, your health, your finances and relationship with God. There will never be a perfect time to take that next step, but we serve a holy and perfect God who will lead you through it. He has great plans for you, if you put on your shoes of peace and take that next step.