“Most people are uncomfortable being alone with their thoughts. In fact, studies have shown that many would rather experience negative stimulation—even something as extreme as an electric shock—than sit in silence with no distractions
Translation: Most of us find it difficult to embrace contemplation. We crave stimulation.
Further translation: Solitude is not your happy place. For some, a high-stimulus environment like Disneyland might be their happy place.
But Solitude? Not so much.
If Solitude isn’t our Happy Place, How Should We See It?
Solitude is not your happy place—it’s your holy place.
It’s the space where you step away from noise, stimulation, and endless distractions,
and instead, you step into the presence of God.
It’s where you confront what’s inside—your fears, your anxieties, your hopes, and your hurts.
It’s where you bring your true self to God—unfiltered and unmasked.
It’s where you learn to hear His voice, even as you quiet your own.
Solitude isn’t always easy.
But it’s where transformation begins.
Jesus didn’t retreat to Solitude for comfort.
He went there for communion.
And so should we.
When we look at Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:1–11, we see that He was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Greek: eremos), a place of Solitude.
But this was no quiet retreat.
It was a spiritual battlefield, where Jesus faced three powerful temptations:
1. The Temptation of Self-Reliance:
“Turn these stones to bread.”
This is the temptation to take your physical needs into your own hands rather than trusting in God’s provision.
2. The Temptation of Testing God:
“Throw yourself down… for He will command His angels.”
This is the temptation to test how much God really cares for you, rather than embracing a posture of humility and trust.
3. The Temptation of Shortcut Significance:
“All the kingdoms of the world… I will give you.”
This is the temptation to seek significance and influence without the cost of obedience and sacrifice.
Solitude: A Source of Spiritual Strength
The eremos—the quiet, solitary place—is where Jesus was strengthened to stand firm against the devil’s schemes. And it can be the same for you.
Whatever situation you find yourself in, when your spiritual tank is low, fill it in the eremos, in Solitude.
The Three Enemies of Your Soul
It is said that we have three enemies of our soul:
The World:
Our culture distracts you and pulls you away from God.
Pride, greed, selfishness, materialism, and the fear of human opinion displace God’s best.
The Flesh:
The natural human inclination toward comfort, lust, gluttony, laziness, pleasure, and indulgence.
These desires lead you away from God’s best.
The Devil:
The adversary of humanity who deceives, accuses, and tempts.
He spews lies, discouragement, and division.
Solitude: Your Training Ground for Spiritual Battle
The way you equip yourself to battle against these enemies of your soul is in Solitude.
But it’s no surprise that your enemy will do everything to distract you from Solitude.
Your phone will buzz.
Your mind will race.
Distractions will clamor for your attention.
Why?
Because Solitude is not just a quiet place—it’s a spiritual battlefield.
In Solitude, you learn to:
Deny yourself (resisting the world’s temptations).
Surrender fully (letting go of the desires of the flesh).
Follow and obey (discerning God’s voice over the devil’s lies).
If you want to change the world, you must first be free from the world’s grip—and that freedom is forged in Solitude.”