Jesus often yearned for solitude. Not solitude for the sake of solitude, but solitude for the purpose of prayer.
In Luke 4:1-12, after Jesus was baptized, he spent forty days praying in the wilderness. After this He was unsuccessfully tempted by Satan, and then he began His public work as Messiah.
In Mark 6:30-32, Jesus sent out his twelve apostles to do ministry. When they returned, He encouraged them to separate from the crowds and find a place to rest.
In Matthew 14:1-13, after Jesus learned that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, Jesus escaped the crowds and went away by himself to mourn and pray.
In Luke 6:12-13, early in His ministry, Jesus spent the whole night alone in prayer. The next day He appointed His twelve Apostles.
In Luke 22:38-44, on the evening when Jesus was arrested, Jesus went to a quiet place on the Mt. of Olives to pray. He was in great agony, knowing what was about to happen to him in his arrest and crucifixion.
In Luke 5:16, we read that Jesus often yearned to escape the crowds following him so that he could spend some time alone in prayer.
We have experienced much solitude in the last several weeks under stay at home orders. Yes, this has been for many too much solitude. But have you thought of solitude as an advantage, as Jesus did? In this pandemic, God has taken many of us out of our usual, hectic, daily lives, giving us more quiet times at home. Use the solitude for prayer. Practice your prayers. Use your catechism and hymnbook for ideas for prayer content. Use the solitude to grow closer to God as you learn and study His Scriptures. There are endless online Bible resources, providing a wealth of material to assist in understanding the Bible. Check out Bible Hub and Bible Gateway for starters. Use the devotional books and materials provided by your congregation.
This time of solitude is the result of danger and suffering from the Corona virus. But it is also an unexpected opportunity for solitude in which to pray and to get back into Scripture.
Lord God, you promise that all things, even a pandemic, must work for the good of those who love you and who are called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28). In this difficult time, help us to see the blessings that you are providing in it. Help us recognize the benefit of solitude and lead us to use it for prayer and Scripture. Amen
-Pastor Anderson