The Spiritual Discipline of Silence and Solitude

By Pastor Chad

You and I are perpetually inundated by deafening noise. This doesn’t always mean we have loud sounds going on around us–sometimes the noise is the incessant addiction to social media. Sometimes it is a distorted view of reality the media and other entertainment venues vomit upon us. Furthermore, at times, it seems like we are conditioned to expect the noise.

Silence and solitude can make us feel uncomfortable and vulnerable; however, silence and solitude may be two of the most impactful spiritual disciplines in our present age. Generally speaking, these two disciplines overlay many other spiritual disciplines (like prayer and meditation). The impact from silence and solitude (which almost always go together) comes about due to the consequences of the exercises–rather than because of the exercises themselves. 

On Sunday morning, I used Psalm 23 as a case study (of sorts) on the benefits of silence and solitude. You know the psalm well, but the first verse sets the tone for the rest of the poem: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” To David, God was everything he needed. As his shepherd, God cares for, protects, guides, and supplies all of David’s needs. 

The power of silence and solitude is that they force us to still our minds and hearts so that we may focus on what is important. The ultimate battleground of one’s spiritual life is the battleground of the mind. All sin begins in the mind. To see that, just consider how we are inundated by so many ideologies in our world; the noise is overwhelming. Thus, spending time alone with God helps us to shut out all the commotion from the world, and focus our hearts and minds on the Lord. 

It is in these moments of quiet focus that we see how sufficient God truly is. He is all we need. If we fill our minds with trash, then our thoughts and lives will be trash. The mind always conforms to that on which it focuses. Therefore, if we want to be holy, we must take in that which is holy. If we want to be wise, we must retain that which is wise. If we want to be theologically sound, we must read that which is theologically right. Silence and solitude have a way of helping us better understand God and His direction for our lives. It is a way of clearing the clutter and noise of the fallen world and helping us see the truth of the situation.

Don’t get me wrong: the disciplines of silence and solitude don’t remove us from the hardships and pressures of this world. What silence and solitude do is show us that God is with us despite the pressures and hardships we endure. Silence and solitude put our lives and circumstances into a proper perspective. 

So, here’s my encouragement to you: ditch the phone and any other electronics. Get alone. Go on a hike, or sit on the back porch, or go for a walk down the street. As you do so, talk to God and listen. It may just change your life.