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Time Alone

I love people and get a lot of my energy from spending time with people. I don't like to be alone for any length of time. When I have a long (more than five minute) commute in the car, I will call someone to catch up and have them keep me company. 

This is probably why I also enjoy social media. I love connecting and reconnecting with friends. I enjoy looking at their photos and their families. Reading their posts about the latest that is going on in their world. I feel connected and am thankful I have gotten to keep in touch with friends and family and to watch my nieces and nephews grow up via social media, where I otherwise wouldn't have. 

But I am learning in this season of my life I also need time alone. It has taken me a little while to adjust to my husband traveling but I'm finding that instead of filling in that quiet space with more people via phone, text or social media, I am resting in the solitude. 

I think it is not only healthy but necessary for spiritual growth. I have to get away from the noise and distractions in order to truly rest. I am one of those people that can't read if the radio or TV is on. I lose focus so easily it isn't funny. Which is probably why I love to write. It helps me to focus on my thoughts when I put them down on paper. Then I can process it a little better.

As much as I love my husband and miss him when he is out of town, I can see this as God's way to use  this time for me to get alone with Him. I am embracing this time and beginning to use it to recharge and rest. I mean sure I get the remote control and can watch whatever I want on TV and have popcorn for dinner. But it's been good for me to use this time to get alone with God more. I'm beginning to turn the noise of the radio and TV off, reading my bible more so that I can listen to His still small voice. Usually I'm the one that does all of the talking. I don't hear Him in an audible voice but I hear Him speak to me. I  am often too busy filling up my head with other noise and voices that I can miss His voice. 

Don't get me wrong people are awesome and we need people in our lives for community. God  uses people to speak to us, also and  to encourage us and challenge us to be the women and men He wants us to be. But I find when I get alone with Him and tune out the world around me I can truly just rest in Him. He delights in time with His children. After Jesus spent time teaching He would often get alone and pray. He loves when we come to Him for comfort and company and guidance.  He enjoys when we seek Him, pray and rest in Him. It's another way to show our love to Him when we put our full trust in Him alone. 

It would be easy to either fill my time with more busyness or feel sorry for myself. When i choose to embrace the season I am going through in the moment I can rest in God's peace. He constantly reminds me that I'm not alone. God has a perfect plan for me and will use everything for my growth and His glory. This has encouraged me this week to get alone with Him more often.

Pressing On 

 "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake"
Psalm 23:2-3


“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,”
Matthew 14:23 NIV

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

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