Finding Strength in Solitude:
A Lesson from Jesus
for St. John's Presbyterian Church
By The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham, Pastor, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas
Jesus had a rhythm worth noticing. He would engage the crowd, pouring Himself out in teaching and healing, and then He would do something that might seem strange to us: He would leave. Luke 5:16 tells us that "He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Not occasionally. Often. This wasn't weakness or avoidance. This was wisdom.
At St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston, we can learn something vital from this pattern. Solitude wasn't Jesus escaping His mission. It was what fueled His mission.
The Wilderness Before the Work
Before Jesus ever stood up to preach, before He called a single disciple or healed one person, He spent forty days in the wilderness (Luke 4:1–2). Alone. Hungry. Tempted. And in that barren place, He learned something essential: how to hear God's voice above every other voice clamoring for His attention.
In Houston's constant hustle, we face a similar temptation, just dressed differently. We're tempted to stay busy, to keep our calendars full, to measure our worth by our productivity. But Jesus shows us another way. Solitude isn't about doing less. It's about being recharged so we can do what truly matters.
In the quiet, we hear God's voice instead of just the crowd's expectations. We remember who we are and Whose we are. We find the strength that doesn't come from our own effort but from resting in God's presence.
Try This: A Silent Hour
Here's a simple practice you can start this week. Set aside one hour for silence. Just one hour. Find a quiet spot. It could be a Houston park, your backyard, or even just a room in your house where you can close the door. For that hour: no phone, no tasks, no music, no distractions. Just you and God.
You don't need to fill the silence with words. Simply say, "Here I am, Lord," and then wait. Notice the stillness. Notice your breathing. Notice what rises in your heart when the noise fades away.
This isn't loneliness. This is connection. This is what Jesus did regularly, and it's what sustained Him for everything He faced.
What Solitude Gives Us
When we practice solitude, something shifts. The anxious thoughts that felt so urgent begin to quiet. The decisions that seemed impossible start to clarify. The burdens we've been carrying alone become lighter when we remember we were never meant to carry them alone.
Solitude brings clarity. It brings peace. And here's the beautiful part: it equips us to serve our Houston community with genuine love instead of exhausted duty. Jesus always returned from solitude ready to heal, teach, and love. We can too.
The Rhythm of Withdrawal and Return
Jesus didn't stay in the wilderness forever. He withdrew to pray, and then He returned to the people. That's the rhythm. We need both. We need times of engagement and times of withdrawal. Times of service and times of rest. Times of speaking and times of listening.
Many of us have mastered the engagement part. We're good at staying busy, showing up, taking on responsibilities. But we've forgotten the withdrawal part. We've forgotten that even Jesus needed to step away and be alone with His Father.
What would it look like if we followed His example? What would change in our lives, our families, our church if we built this rhythm into our weeks? Not as an occasional luxury but as a regular practice, as essential as eating or sleeping.
An Invitation to Deeper Waters
If this idea resonates with you, if you're sensing a hunger for more of this kind of quiet connection with God, I invite you to explore further. I've written a book called
When You Choose Silence, available on Amazon, that goes deeper into these practices of contemplative Christian spirituality.
When You Choose Silence offers an invitation into what I call "the deep waters" of faith. It's for anyone who feels weary of constant noise, who longs for a quieter, steadier way of walking with God. Drawing on the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, Benedictine contemplative life, and the example of Jesus Himself, the book shows how Christian silence becomes not an absence but a presence—the stillness where you begin truly hearing God's voice.
Inside, you'll find:
- A contemplative journey into learning how to enter and sustain times of silence
- Insights from monastic silence and holy listening practices
- A 30-day silence challenge with Scripture reflections
- Pastoral reflections on the false self and spiritual noise
- A "Rule of Life for Silence Seekers" with practical steps
- Encouragement for practicing silence both alone and in Christian community
Whether you're a pastor preparing sermons, someone on retreat longing for quiet, an introverted Christian seeking spiritual depth, or simply someone weary of our culture's constant noise, this book offers a steady companion for the journey.
The path of contemplative silence isn't an escape from the world. It's preparation for engaging the world with Christ's love. In the hush, you won't find emptiness but fullness. Not loneliness but presence. Not silence alone but the living Word who waits to meet you.
Prayer
Lord, guide us at St. John's to find Your peace in solitude. Help us step away from the noise, hear Your voice clearly, and return renewed to serve our neighbors with genuine love. Give us the courage to follow Jesus' example, trusting that time alone with You is never time wasted. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham serves as pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. His book When You Choose Silence: An Invitation to Contemplative Christian Spirituality is available on Amazon.
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Ready to learn more about Easter at St. John's Presbyterian Church? Contact us at 713-723-6262 or visit us at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035. Join us for worship this Sunday at 11:00 AM and experience the community that promises to walk with you in faith. In the meantime, continue your journey with uses you learn more about Best Non-Mega Church Houston: Why St. John's Presbyterian Offers Real Faith Beyond Hype or Bible Study in Houston: Where to Find Scripture Study That Goes Deeper.
