Solitude: Making Space to Be with God

Life is noisy!

From the moment we wake up, our attention is pulled in countless directions. Our phones buzz, podcasts play, social media scrolls endlessly, and even moments that once felt quiet are often filled with entertainment or information–reaching for your phone when waiting to pay for your groceries, scrolling while walking the dog–a brief, honest look at our lives will reveal just how often we distract ourselves from the present moment. We do it at the expense of being present, of noticing the landscape or the people around us and of conversation and real connection.

We have become accustomed to a constant stream of input.

As a result, many of us rarely experience true solitude.

The thought of being completely alone, without distraction, can feel uncomfortable. Yet all through the Bible, and especially in the life of Jesus, we see that solitude is one of the primary ways we create space to encounter God.

What is Solitude?

The dictionary definition of Solitude is: The state of being alone, often by choice.

Solitude is not loneliness. They are not the same thing. Loneliness is the pain of unwanted isolation. Solitude is the joy of being alone in the presence of our Creator. One leaves us feeling disconnected; the other helps us become more deeply connected—to God, to ourselves and ultimately to other people.

More specifically, solitude is the intentional decision to step away from people, noise, technology, and distractions in order to be alone with God.

This is more than simply being by yourself. We can be physically alone but still be surrounded by noise. We can sit in an empty room scrolling through our phones, listening to music or feeding on information. Solitude invites us to leave all of that behind.

No phone.

No podcasts.

No music.

No books.

No Bible study notes.

No earbuds.

Just you and God.

That might sound strange at first. Surely reading the Bible or listening to worship music is a good thing? Of course it is. But solitude serves a different purpose. Rather than filling our minds with more information, solitude creates space for us to become aware of God’s presence.

In solitude, we come with no agenda and no goal.

We are not trying to achieve anything. We are not trying to hear God’s voice, receive a revelation, solve a problem, or have an emotional experience. Those things may happen, but they are not the purpose.

The purpose is simply to be with God.

This sounds simple, but for many of us it is incredibly difficult. We are so used to “doing”, being busy and achieving that to simply “be” feels unproductive. But God’s invitation to each of us is to walk with Him, build our lives around Him, discover the depth of his love for us and enjoy His presence.

Our culture is obsessed with productivity. It’s how success is measured. In a world where our identity is defined by what we achieve it becomes all too easy to see our relationship with God in the same way. Am I gaining anything from this? What have I achieved? Do I feel any different? Have I changed?

The practice of solitude gently challenges this belief and mindset. It reminds us that relationships cannot be measured by productivity or achievement.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments with people we love are those in which nothing particularly significant happens. We simply enjoy being together.

The same is true of our relationship with God.

Jesus and the Practice of Solitude

When we look at the life of Jesus we can’t help but notice how often He withdrew to solitary places.

Again and again, we find Him leaving the crowds behind and seeking quiet places where He could be alone with His Father.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 (NIV)

“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 (NIV)

Notice that word: often.

This wasn’t an occasional practice. It was a regular rhythm in Jesus’ life.

Again and again, Jesus withdrew.

If the Son of God needed regular time alone with His Father, how much more do we?

Everything He did flowed from His relationship with His Father.

Solitude was not an escape from His mission–time away from the crowds. It was how He prepared for it, how He refuelled, rested, revived, restored and received from His Father. The crowds wanted His attention, but Jesus understood that His deepest need was communion with God.

The same is true for us.

We often imagine that we don’t have time for solitude because life is busy. Yet busyness may be the very reason we need it most. Solitude allows us to step out of the chaos and busyness of our lives and reconnect with the One who gives life, wisdom, strength, and direction.

Why Solitude Feels Difficult

For many of us, solitude sounds appealing. Being alone in nature, drawing near to God and spending time away from the challenges of the day. But the reality is that practising solitude can be challenging.

The moment we sit in silence, all kinds of thoughts begin to surface.

We become aware of anxieties we have been ignoring.

We replay conversations.

We think about our to-do lists.

We notice frustrations, disappointments, and fears.

Sometimes we simply feel restless.

Many of us have become so accustomed to distraction that silence feels uncomfortable.

But this discomfort is often revealing.

Constant distraction can function like noise-cancelling headphones for the soul. They help us avoid things we would rather not face.

In solitude, those distractions are removed.

We become more aware of what is happening beneath the surface of our lives.

This can feel unsettling, but it is also where God often begins His work.

I love to walk and I am blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the UK, with green countryside, beaches, the sea and the wilds of Dartmoor all close by. 

I find spending time on my own, in nature, incredibly refreshing. Walking slowly through a beautiful landscape, noticing what is around me helps me connect with God in a way that I find hard in any other setting. 

But I’ve noticed that when I head out my mind is often racing. It’s as if everything piles in at once. It takes a while–focusing my thoughts on God, concentrating on my breathing and repeating a simple breath prayer such as “Be still” as I breathe in “and know that I am God” as I breathe out helps to calm the noise and gently return my attention to God. 

Being alone in silence doesn’t create the noise–it simply reveals what is already there. I begin to recognise my need for God more acutely and over time this desire permeates into my “ordinary” daily life as I create regular moments to stop and re-centre myself to His presence.

What God Does in Solitude

When we make space for God, He often brings things into the light.

A painful memory.

A hidden fear.

An unhealthy pattern.

A wound we didn’t realise we were carrying.

This isn’t because God wants to shame us. Quite the opposite.

God reveals what He intends to heal.

His heart is always for restoration, freedom, and transformation.

When something surfaces during solitude, resist the temptation to push it away. Instead, become curious.

Imagine it as a “trailhead” inviting you on a journey of discovery.

Ask questions such as:

• Why did I react that way?
• Why does this situation affect me so deeply?
• What am I afraid of?
• What am I trying to control?
• What am I believing about myself?
• What might God want to say about this?

Bring these questions before God.

Listen.

Pay attention.

Allow Him to gently guide the conversation.

Often, the deepest work of spiritual formation happens not through dramatic experiences but through these quiet moments of honesty in God’s presence.

Over time, solitude helps us become more aware of God’s love, more honest about ourselves, and more open to the transforming work He longs to do in our lives.

Beginning the Practice of Solitude

You might begin with a simple prayer:

“Here I am, Lord.”

Then sit quietly with Him.

When your mind wanders—and it will—notice your thoughts and gently return your attention to God. Don’t be hard on yourself. Our minds are powerful, God created them that way. It takes practice to learn to be still.

Remember we are not trying to empty our minds, we are simply making space for God!

Some days will feel rich and meaningful.

Other days may feel ordinary.

Both are okay.

Remember, the goal is not to achieve a spiritual experience. The goal is to be with God.

Over time, these moments of intentional solitude can become a life-giving rhythm. They create space for us to hear God’s gentle voice, experience His peace, and allow Him to shape us from the inside out.

In a noisy world, solitude is an act of resistance.

The world will always offer us more noise, more information and more distraction. Solitude is a deliberate choice to step away from all of that and turn our attention towards God.

It is in the quiet that we begin to notice His presence.

It is in the stillness that we learn to hear His voice.

It is in solitude that we discover we were never truly alone.

God has been there all along, waiting patiently for us to slow down long enough to notice Him.